The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has stayed true to its pledge of ensuring 33% representation for women among its candidates for Odisha's 21 Lok Sabha seats. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced Lekhashree Samantsinghar as the party's candidate for the Balasore parliamentary constituency, marking the fulfillment of this commitment.
Lekhashree Samantsinghar, formerly associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), joined the BJD just two days prior to her nomination. She becomes the seventh woman candidate named by the BJD for the Lok Sabha elections, following candidates from Bargarh, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Koraput, and Aska.
In the 2019 elections, the BJD secured victories in five out of the seven Lok Sabha seats contested by women candidates. The party's overall performance saw it clinch 12 seats out of 21, with the BJP winning eight seats and the Congress one. Notably, among the BJD's candidates are former members of the BJP and the Congress, indicating a trend of political realignments.
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While the BJD has announced 117 candidates for the concurrent assembly elections, only 19 of them are women. This marks a slight increase compared to the 2019 elections when the party fielded 21 women out of 147 seats. In contrast, the BJP has nominated only eight women out of its 112 announced candidates.
Some of the BJD's female candidates have familial ties to party leaders. For instance, wives and daughters of prominent BJD figures have received tickets. This includes Latika Naik, wife of former BJD candidate Dusmanta Naik, and Gitanjali Routray, wife of sitting BJD MLA Sambit Routray. The party has also nominated widows of former BJD members, such as Manjula Swain and Rita Sahu, highlighting the party's strategy to maintain or consolidate support bases.
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The BJD's commitment to gender equality in candidate selection for both Lok Sabha and assembly elections reflects a broader effort to promote inclusivity and representation in Odisha's political landscape. With a mix of experienced politicians and newcomers, the party aims to secure electoral success while upholding its principles of diversity and equal opportunity.
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