Bhubaneswar, April 17: Though elections are around the corner, the ruling BJD is yet to announce candidates for the remaining 30 Assembly seats. The ruling party has announced candidates for 21 Lok Sabha seats and 117 Assembly segments in phases. Odisha Assembly and Lok Sabha polls in the state will be held simultaneously in four phases on May 13, 20, 25 and June 1

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Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Berhampur and Koraput Lok Sabha constituencies and Assembly constituencies under their limits will go to polls in the first phase on May 13. However, the BJD has so far failed to finalise its candidates for Jeypore Assembly seat under Koraput Lok Sabha constituency which is represented by Congress heavy weight Tara Prasad Bahinipati since 2014. The BJD is mulling whether it will repeat senior leader Rabi Narayan Nanda, a three-time MLA from Jeypore and a former minister, or replace him.

Also Read: BJD's fifth list of candidates: Naveen also to contest from Kantabanji

The party is yet to announce candidate for Chitrakonda Assembly seat which will go to polls in the first phase

The BJD has also not announced its candidate for the Kantabanji Assembly seat, represented by senior Congress leader Santosh Singh Saluja. Saluja has been repeated the Congress from the seat.

The BJD has also not announced its candidate the Barchana Assembly seat in Jajpur Lok Sabha constituency. Senior BJD leader Amar Prasad Satpathy has been elected from the seat six times.

Also Read: Odisha: BJP releases second list of candidates for Assembly polls

Besides, the ruling party has not announced candidates for several key constituencies in coastal Odisha including Kendrapara, Balikuda-Erasama, Bhogarai, Nilagiri, Kakatpur, Korai and Bari.