Odisha Lok Sabha elections 2024: Major Candidates List

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Odisha, which is voting in four phases from May 13 to June 1, will see four constituencies going to the polls in the fourth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Voting for the fourth phase will take place across 96 constituencies on May 13. Odisha sends 21 members to the Lok Sabha, including Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Of the 21 Odisha Lok Sabha constituencies, five are reserved for Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates and three for Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) emerged as the frontrunner, winning 12 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed to secure 8 seats, while the Congress put up a dismal show, settling for just one seat.

Also Read: UP Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 4 Voting Live Updates

Odisha Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Candidates List

Here are the key constituencies of Odisha to watch out for in Phase 4 of the Lok Sabha elections:

Kalahandi

• Current Representative: BJP leader Basanta Kumar Panda
• Previous Election: Defeated BJD’s Puspendra Singhdeo in 2019
• 2024 Candidates:
  • Malavika Keshari Deo (BJP)
  • Draupadi Majhi (Congress)
• Background: Malavika Keshari Deo is the wife of Arka Keshari Deo, the son of Bikram Keshari Deo, a former BJP MP and scion of the Kalahandi royal family. The couple joined the BJP in 2023.

Koraput

• Historical Significance: A Congress stronghold with only two BJD victories
• Notable Elections:
  • 2009: BJD’s Jayaran Pangi defeated 9-time MP Giridhar Gamang (Congress)
  • 2014: BJD’s Jhina Hikaka defeated Gamang again
• 2024 Candidates:
  • Saptagiri Shankar Ulaka (Congress, incumbent MP)
  • Kausalya Hikaka (BJD)
• 2019 Results: The only seat won by Congress in Odisha

Nabarangpur

• Historical Significance: Dominated by Congress since 1962
• Notable Politician: Khagapati Pradhani won a record 9 times
• Shift in Power:
  • 2014: BJD’s Ramesh Chandra Majhi won
  • 2019: Ramesh Chandra Majhi defeated Congress’ Pradeep Kumar Majhi by over 41,000 votes
• 2024 Candidates:
  • Bhujabal Majhi (Congress)
  • Pradeep Kumar Majhi (BJD, former Congress member)
  • Balabhadra Majhi (BJP, former BJD winner in 2014)

Berhampur

• Current Representative: BJD’s Chandra Sekhar Sahu
• Historical Significance: A former Congress stronghold from 1971 to 1998
• Notable Elections:
  • 1999: BJP secured the seat
  • Former PM PV Narasimha Rao was once an MP from Berhampur
• 2024 Candidates:
  • Rashmi Ranjan Pattnaik (Congress)
  • Bhurgu Baxi Patro (BJD, former Odisha BJP vice president till April 2024)
  • Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy (BJP, expelled from BJD and a three-time MLA from Gopalpur assembly constituency)

These key constituencies will play a crucial role in determining the political landscape of Odisha in the upcoming elections. Keep an eye on these battlegrounds as the state heads to the polls on May 13.

Odisha Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Dates