Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen) April 15: A day after being nominated as the Congress candidate for the upcoming Assembly polls in Odisha, Pruthvi Ballav Patnaik, son of former Chief Minister J B Patnaik, expressed optimism about securing his maiden electoral victory. Patnaik will be contesting from Begunia, the same constituency once represented by his late father, as per the second list of 75 Assembly candidates released by Congress on Sunday.
Patnaik highlighted the overwhelming support from the people of Begunia and Bolagarh during his electoral debut, emphasizing the strength of his grassroots organizational base cultivated over the past three years. He asserted that Congress holds a stronger position than the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Begunia.
Having refrained from contesting the 2019 elections due to a relatively weaker organizational base, Patnaik now feels confident in his ability to secure victory with the strengthened constituency support. He expressed readiness to face tough competition and emerge victorious.
While claiming to have applied online for the party ticket, Patnaik mentioned that Congress finalized his candidature after a thorough assessment. He criticized both the BJD and BJP for their perceived neglect of the constituency and their prolonged alliance-building exercises, which have left the people dissatisfied.
Patnaik asserted that the electorate is displeased with the absenteeism of elected representatives and is eager for change, signaling his determination to address their grievances and secure victory with their support.
