Ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) candidates for the upcoming elections to three Rajya Sabha seats from Odisha, Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, Achyuta Samanta and Prasanta Nanda filed their nomination papers in the presence of CM Naveen Patnaik on Friday.
Returning Officer Rajesh Prabhakar Patil received the nomination papers. Several Ministers and MLAs were present .“I am sure that all the three BJD candidates for the Rajya Sabha will speak strongly for the interests of Odisha in the House.” said the CM while talking to reporters after the filing of nomination papers.
Given the numerical strength of the ruling BJD in the Assembly, all three candidates are sure to win.Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, who owns a media house with TV Channel, Odia daily newspaper and radio as well as theatre groups , Achyuta Samanta, a eminent social worker whose KISS residential school is the largest free KG to PG school exclusively for tribals and Prasant Nanda, a former minister, cinema director and actor , all said they would raise the issues concerning Odisha.
Samanta said the nomination to RS will help him further the cause of tribals and their education. Nanda said issues like Polavaram project, neglect of railways would be raised by him while Ranjan Patnaik said all issues safeguarding interest of Odisha were his concern.
Ranjan Patnaik ducked questions on his past criticism of CM Naveen Patnaik and the BJD government. When asked to react to criticism over his nomination, he said, he accepts such critics as it helps him in moving forward.
It may be noted here that both Soumya Ranjan Patnaik ( son-in-law of late J B Patnaik) and A Samanta were inducted to the BJD barely 24 hours ago. Nanda was however in the party since last five years.