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Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is seeking a fresh term in the Lower House from the Sambalpur Lok Sabha constituency of Odisha, visited the Maa Samaleswari temple and sought divine blessings before filing his nomination on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters before filing his nomination, the Union Minister said the BJP will secure all 21 Lok Sabha seats in the state. "I am going to file my nomination papers today with the blessings of Maa Samaleswari. The blessings of the deity are with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP as we are confident that polling for all 21 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state will be decided in our favour," Pradhan said. Pradhan took out an elaborate roadshow ahead of his nominating filing, with the people turning up in big numbers on both sides of the streets in Sambalpur, holding up banners and placards welcoming Pradhan and demonstrating their support for the BJP. The battle for Sambalpur this year will mark Pradhan's return to the fray after a gap of 15 years. The constituency will go to polls on May 25. Earlier, on Sunday, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai joined Pradhan as he took out a roadshow in Jharsuguda. Speaking to reporters, CM Sai said, "I was invited to be a part of this historic roadshow. The BJP will perform well in Odisha this time. We will take the lion's share of the electoral spoils in the state this year. I am also confident that the BJP will form the next government in the state." The polling for the Assembly in the BJD-ruled state is being held at the same time as the Lok Sabha elections. "I am delighted that the Chhattisgarh chief minister could take out time to join us in this roadshow today. There is a wave in favour of PM Modi not just across the state but the country. We are confident of winning all 21 seats here," Pradhan said. The assembly and Lok Sabha elections in the state are to be held simultaneously in four phases, starting May 13. The remaining seats will poll on May 20, May 25 and June 1. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) won the majority of seats in the state while the BJP and the Congress brought up the rear. The BJD won 12 seats while the BJP finished a close second at 8 and the Congress bagged just a lone seat. The counting of votes for all phases is scheduled for June 4. (ANI)
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