Congress releases first list Lok Sabha candidates for Orissa

New Delhi, Mar. 28 (ANI): Congress party has announced the list of 16 candidates for Lok Sabha elections in Orissa.

Former Orissa Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang will contest from Koraput (ST), while Union Minister Chandra Shekhar Sahu has been given ticket for Berhampur Constituency.

Former Union Minister Srikant Jena will contest from Balasore, while Ramchandra Rath is being fielded from Aska.

Bhakta Charan Das is another former Union Minister who will try his luck from Kalahandi.

Congress leader Ananta Prasad Sethi has been given ticket from Bhadrak (SC) while former state minister Narasingh Mishra will contest from Bolangir seat.

The reason behind PCC President K P Singhdeo not featuring in the list is believed to be that he would be projected as the chief ministerial candidate of the party for the assembly election, which is being held simultaneously.

Former Chief Minister J B Patnaik's wife Jayanti and son-in-law S R Patnaik have not been any ticket this time.

In the last Lok Sabha polls, S R Patnaik had contested from Bhubaneswar, while Jayanti had contested from Cuttack.

The party has fielded Bibhuti Bhushan Mishra from Cuttack this time. (ANI)