Sourabha Kumar Parida
Bhubaneswar, May 10: Three independent candidates are in the fray along with nominees of major political parties for Bhubaneswar Central Assembly constituency. The final list of candidates was released on Thursday.
The three independent candidates whose nominations have been approved by the returning officer are Sanatan Behera, Akshay Kumar Barik and Kisan Kumar Balodia.
Sanatan Behera is contesting the election for the fifth time. He fought his first election in 1990 as an independent, as a BSP candidate in 1995 and RJD nominated him twice in 2000 and 2004. The 73-year-old this time has filed his nomination as an independent after 20 years.
"Both the Centre and state government have betrayed people with false promises. I will go to people to unite them against corruption and disparity," said Behera.
The second independent candidate of Bhubaneswar Central, Akshay Kumar Barik, is a lawyer by profession. He has filed his nomination as an independent for the seventh time. He had fought from Kakatpur constituency twice in 1990 and 1995. Later, he filed his nomination for Jagatsinghpur Lok Sabha seat in 2000 and further returned to Kakatpur Assembly constituency in 2004. In 2009, he filed his nomination for Nimapada and is contesting from Bhubaneswar Central for the second time after 2019.
"Politics is the best way to serve maximum people by an individual. I am in politics to serve people. I request voters to give me a chance to serve them," said Barik.
Kisan Kumar Balodia has joined the electoral battle for the first time as an independent to serve people. He is campaigning raising voice against corruption in government offices and promising voters of Bhubaneswar Central to solve water logging problem if voted to win.
The trio unanimously said that our nomination is awareness against nepotism in politics. Politics is not the only affair of rich and influential. Common man should come forward to bring social change by active involvement in politics.
