Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik has filed his nomination papers for the Hinjili Assembly constituency in his home district Ganjam on Wednesday. He was the first BJD candidate in the State to file the nomination papers. To demonstrate the BJD’s efforts for women’s emancipation, Pramila Bisoi, women’s self-help group activist, accompanied the Chief Minister.
After his nomination, State minister Usha Devi also filed her nomination papers for Chikiti Assembly segment in Ganjam district.
Most senior leaders of Ganjam district were at Chhatrapur along with a huge crowd of BJD supporters. This crowd included large number of women, who shouted slogans in favour of Mr. Patnaik.
Before reaching Chhatrapur, Mr. Patnaik visited Tara Tarini hill shrine in Ganjam district to worship the twin mother deities revered throughout the State.
Back up in Bijepur
Since becoming Chief Minister in 2000, Mr. Patnaik has contested and won from Hinjili four times in a row. Now he is aspiring to win for the fifth time from here. But this time around he has decided to contest from Bijepur Assembly seat in Bargarh district of western Odisha as well, which goes to polls in the second phase, while polling will be held in Hinjli in the first phase.
Mr. Patnaik submitted four sets of nomination papers before assistant sub-collector S.N.Nayak.
Speaking to newsmen after filing his nomination, Mr. Patnaik reiterated that BJD will win plenty of seats and will also form the government in the State.
Hinjili’s unique history
Hinjili Assembly constituency has a history of sticking to a single candidate. Former State minister, late Brundaban Nayak had won from this assembly seat seven times in 1957, 1961, 1967, 1971, 1974, 1977 and 1980.
