Contraray to the strategy of rival political parties, the opposition Congress today included anti-liquor votary in the list of star campaigners for the approaching three-tire panchayat general elections.
While ruling BJD and Opposition BJP took film stars among the star campaigners for their parties, the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee headed by Prasad Harichandan added two common men, a singer and brother of late Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra (Lulu) apart from Congress heavyweights.
The party submitted the list of star campaigners with the State Election Commission.
Rahul Nayak, who lost his parents in the Gumudumaha Police firing was added in the list of star campaigners in addition to noted anti-liquor activist Keshamati Pradhan of Kandhamal.
The party has also named late Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra's brother Lalitendu, a first timer as its star campaigner.
Five of the 16 party MLAs have been included in the list of star campaigners also.
Singer Narendra Kumar will also be seen campaigning for the Congress.
However, the Congress has droped veteran cine stars Bijay Mohanty and Aparajita Mohanty, who had unsuccessfully contested for Lok Sabha seats on Congress ticket in the last general election.
The Leader of the Opposition Narasingh Mishra, Opposition chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati, MLA Naba Das, veteran leader Hemananda Biswal, former union minister Kanhu Lenka and KP Singhdeo and Congress in-charge of Odisha, his deputy Subhankar Sarkar were chosen as eminent campaigners for the party.
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