The denial of BJD ticket to senior most party leader and nine-time MLA Sugnani Kumari Deo has sparked protests from her supporters, marking first show of disgruntlement over distribution of tickets by the ruling party.
Several supporters of Kabisurya Nagar MLA staged dharna in front of her house in Ganjam district. Later they went to Bhubaneswar to meet the chief minister pleading for her re-nomination from the seat.
Her supporters from Khallikote, Beguniapada, Kodala, Purushottampur, Kabisurya Nagara and Chhatrapur have urged the party supremo Naveen Patnaik to allot her party ticket to contest the assembly election.
While releasing the first round of tickets for the ensuing polls yesterday, Patnaik had said, Deo has not been named as a candidate as she was not willing to contest on health grounds.
But party sources said, Deo was unhappy over choice of candidates for some seats, particularly those of Aska Lok Sabha seat and Polsara assembly constituency, in her home Ganjam district, triggering her decision to opt out of the election.
The BJD, which has so far announced candidates list for 5 Lok Sabha and 30 assembly seats, named Latika Pradhan, daughter of sitting Aska MP, Nityananda Pradhan, in place of Sugnani Kumari Deo, to contest from Kabisurya Nagar assembly seat. Patnaik has named Ladu Kishore Swain to contest the Aska Lok Sabha seat while the party candidate for Polsara is yet to be announced.
Deo represented Khallikote assembly seat eight times before shifting to Kabisurya Nagar assembly constituency in the last election.
"We were very much surprised when we came to know Rani of Khallikote (Deo) was denied party ticket to contest," said one of her supporters. "It's unfortunate to ignore the senior most leader of the party," said another party leader.
Deo (77), tried to convince her supporters by saying she had expressed her desire not to contest the polls due to her health condition. She, however, refused to talk to the media over the development. "No comments. Don't ask me please," she said.
The royal scion of erstwhile Khallikote estate in Ganjam district, Deo, has been elected nine times to the state assembly.
