Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal has nominated senior leader Prasanna Acharya for Sambalpur assembly seat. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticized this move. Sambalpur BJP candidate Jayanarayan Mishra has criticized the ruling party saying that the election of Prasanna Acharya shows the hatred of BJD for Sambalpur.
Jayanarayan Mishra Prasanna Acharya has pointed out two major issues regarding the candidate. First, Prasanna Acharya is not a native of Sambalpur district. Second, he is associated with anti-Sambalpur sentiments. According to Jayanarayan Mishra, Prasanna Acharya had earlier demanded the division of Sambalpur into four parts, which has hindered the development of the district. Jayanarayan Mishra opined that it is necessary to decide whether the people of Sambalpur will support the candidature of Prasanna Acharya or not.
Similarly, Jayanarayan Mishra has criticized the party for fielding candidates from the neighboring districts of Jajpur and Bargarh for Sambalpur Lok Sabha candidate Pranab Prakash Das. He strongly expressed that Sambalpur residents will give a befitting response to this decision.
BJD has not yet given any response to this allegation. On the other hand, after the announcement of the name of Prasanna Acharya, the speculations about Rasheshwari Panigarahi, the former MLA of Sambalpur, getting the ticket have come to an end. Raseshwari Panigarahi has accepted the decision of the party with respect and emphasized on the leadership role of the Chief Minister in taking such a decision.
