Odisha Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Phase 7 key candidates and constituencies to watch out for

The Election Commission of India is conducting Phase 7 of the Lok Sabha elections on Saturday (June 1), marking the final phase of this extensive electoral process. Polling is being held in 57 Lok Sabha seats across seven States and one Union Territory: Bihar, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

This phase will be the grand culmination of the world's largest democratic exercise, which commenced on April 19. Vote counting is scheduled for June 4.

In Odisha, votes are being cast in six Lok Sabha constituencies in the seventh and final phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

Here are key Odisha constituencies to watch out for in Phase 7:

1. Balasore

Balasore comprises seven assembly segments - Badasahi, Bhograi, Jaleswar, Balasore, Basta, Nilgiri, and Remuna.

In 2019, BJP's Pratap Chandra Sarangi won by getting 41. 79 per cent votes and defeated BJD's Rabindra Kumar Jena, who came second from this Lok Sabha constituency, and Congress'Nabajyoti Patnaik, who grabbed the third spot.

In the 2014 election, Biju Janata Dal candidate Rabindra Kumar Jena defeated Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Pratap Chandra Sarangi by a margin of 141,825 votes.

This time BJP's Sarangi is facing BJD's Lekhashree Samantsinghar and Congress' Srikant Kumar Jena.

Samantsinghar, a former BJP Odisha unit vice-president, joined the BJD in April 2024.

2. Jajpur

This is an SC-reserved constituency with seven assembly segments namely Binjharpur (SC), Bari, Barachana, Dharmasala, Jajpur, Korei, Sukinda.

Before the 2008 delimitation, the legislative assembly segments that constituted this parliamentary constituency were - Sukinda, Korai, Jajpur, Dharamsala, Barchana, Bari-Derabisi, and Binjharpur.

In the 2014 election, Biju Janata Dal candidate Rita Tarai defeated Indian National Congress candidate Asok Das by a margin of 320,271 votes.

In 2019,Jajpur was won by BJD's Sarmistha Sethi, who defeated BJP's Amiya Kanta Mallick.For the Lok Sabhaelections 2024, the BJP has fielded Rabindra Narayan Behera from this seat, while the Congress has nominated Anchal Das. The BJD has given the ticket to Sarmistha Sethi from this constituency.

3. Kendrapara

Kendrapara comprised of seven assembly segments.

In the 2014 election, Biju Janata Dal candidate Baijayant Panda defeated Indian National Congress candidate Dharanidhar Nayak by a margin of 209,108 votes.

In 2019, BJD's Anubhav Mohanty won against BJP's Baijayant Panda.For this election, BJD has fielded Anshuman Mohanty against BJP's Baijayant Panda. Congress has nominated Sidharth Swarup Das.

4. Bhadrak

The BJD has held the Bhadrak Lok Sabha seat since 1998. It was held by Arjun Charan Sethi till 2019 and then byManju Lata Mandal till present.

Now, the party has once again fielded Manju Lata Mandal for the Lok Sabha elections 2024. The Congress has nominated Anant Prasad Sethi, while the BJP has fielded Avimanyu Sethi. Notably, Bhadrak is reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC).

In the 2014 election, Biju Janata Dal candidate Arjun Charan Sethi defeated Indian National Congress candidate Sangram Keshari Jena by a margin of 179,359 votes.

(With inputs from agencies)