Bhubaneswar: In a surprising turn of events, Kharabela Swain, a three-time Member of Parliament, declared on Monday his decision to contest as an independent candidate from the Balasore Lok Sabha seat. Expressing dissatisfaction over not being nominated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Swain announced his independent candidacy while affirming his allegiance to the party.
Speaking to the media, Swain outlined his intention to invoke the legacy of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and advocate for the developmental agenda of the BJP in Balasore to secure votes. Despite his decision to contest independently, Swain clarified that he has no plans to resign from the BJP.
“I will contest as an Independent candidate and join the BJP if I win. I had contested from Kandhamal in the last election and expressed interest in contesting from Balasore this time. However, I have been denied a ticket. I will not quit the BJP; the party can expel me,” he stated.
Swain expressed disappointment over not receiving the BJP nomination for the Balasore constituency, emphasizing that he had hoped for the opportunity since rejoining the party in 2019. Having previously served three terms as a BJP MP, Swain’s exclusion from the party’s candidate list for Balasore came as a surprise to many.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Swain contested as the BJP nominee for the Kandhamal constituency but was defeated by the Biju Janata Dal’s Achyuta Samanta.
Swain’s decision to contest independently adds an intriguing dimension to the electoral landscape in Balasore, setting the stage for a keenly watched electoral battle in the upcoming polls.
