By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, March 18, 2019: In a dramatic twist, Odisha chief minister and the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief on Monday announced to contest from two Assembly constituencies – Hinjli which he has been winning for the last four terms and Bijepur.

This is for the first time Patnaik will be contesting from two constituencies in the upcoming Assembly polls.

Patnaik also released the first list of candidates for 54 Assembly constituencies and nine candidates for the Lok Sabha polls.

Party leaders and supporters have been urging Patnaik to contest from western Odisha region where BJP is understood to be gaining strength. Bijepur Assembly seat falls under Bargarh Lok Sabha constituency. Western region covers five Lok Sabha seats and 37 Assembly constituencies.

After the death of Congress MLA Subal Sahu from Bijepur seat, BJD gave the ticket to his wife, Rita Sahu, who won from the constituency in by-poll elections last year. Sitting MLA Sahu will not be contesting, leaving it for BJD chief instead.

On Sunday, Patnaik had said that he was seriously considering contesting from western Odisha following requests from party leaders and the public.

Patnaik has been representing Hinjili constituency defeating Congress candidates since 2000. Hinjili Assembly seat falls under the Aska Lok Sabha constituency which used to be the stronghold of his legendary father, Biju Patnaik.

Patnaik announced names of candidates of nine Lok Sabha constituencies in its first list including Kousalya Hikaka (Koraput), Achyuta Samanta (Kandhamal), Chandra Shekhar Sahu (Berhampur), Puspendra Singh Deo (Kalahandi), Ramesh Chandra Majhi (Nabarangpur), Prasanna Acharya (Bargarh), Sunita Biswal (Sundargarh), Pramila Bisoi (Aska) and Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo (Bolangir).

In the first phase, constituencies including Berhampur, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur and Koraput and in the second phase, five constituencies including Aska, Bargarh, Bolangir, Kandamhal and Sundargarh constituencies, will go to polls.

Odisha will be going to polls in four phases on April 11, 18, 23 and 29. The state will be voting simultaneously for parliamentary and assembly constituencies.

There are 21 Lok Sabha and 147 Assembly seats in Odisha.