Ex-works secy joins BJD, may contest from Sambalpur LS seat

Bhubaneswar: Former state works secretary Nalini Kant Pradhan took a plunge into politics on Friday as he joined the ruling BJD in presence of party president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik here at Naveen Niwas.

Party sources said Nalini Kant is likely to be fielded as BJD’s Lok Sabha candidate from

Sambalpur

parliamentary segment, which is currently being held by BJD’s Nagendra Pradhan.

Welcoming him to the party, Naveen said his joining will strengthen BJD in the region.

In his reaction, Nalini Kant said, “Simplicity, discipline and progressive ideas of chief minister for development of Odisha inspired him to join BJD.”

“As an administrator, I have worked under the chief minister. After joining the party, I can continue to serve people of our region,” said Nalini Kant.

A resident of Athamallik area in Angul district, Nalini Kant said though he has not received any indication from the party leadership to fight the forthcoming polls, he has evinced his interest to fight the polls if given a chance.

After serving as s work secretary for more than five years, Nalini Kant, a 1980-batch civil engineer, resigned from service on February 27, nearly a month before completion of his one-year extension period. He got one-year extension after retirement from service in March 2018.

By fielding Nalini Kant from the seat, the ruling dispensation plans to garner the support of chasa community, which has significant presence in four of the seven assembly seats under the Sambalpur Lok Sabha segment. More than 50% population in Athamallik, Chendipada, Rairakhol and Deogarh assembly constituencies belong to chasa community.

With both the BJP and the Congress making fresh inroads in Sambalpur region, the BJD plans to gain by roping in fresh, non-controversial and soft-spoken faces like Nalini Kant, said an analyst.

Despite being considered as one of the confidants of CM during his stint as work secretary, Nalini Kant had received criticism from political parties over collapse of bridges under construction. He also received flak over inordinate delay in construction of Bomikhal road overbridge and Netaji Subash Chandra Bose bridge connecting Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.

His role was also crucial in successful completion of nearly 1-km Gurupriya bridge in Maoist-affected Malkangiri district with the bridge providing connectivity to 151 villages in the cut-off area (now Swabhiman area). Nalini Kant was instrumental in construction of

Biju Expressway

(Rourkela-Bargarh) stretch and successfully taken up several bridge projects over the

Mahanadi

in Sambalpur and Cuttack districts.

When contacted, the Sambalpur MP declined to comment anything on Nalini Kant joining the party.