Union Railway Minister Ashwini Says No Plan to Contest from Odisha's Balasore

Bhubaneswar: Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday put to rest the buzz in political circles that central BJP leadership is planning to field him for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls from Odisha’s Balasore parliamentary constituency.

Responding to a media query during his recent Balasore visit, Vaishnaw clearly stated that he would not contest the Lok Sabha polls from Balasore.

“I will not contest from Balasore. We have Pratap Nana (sitting MP from Balasore and former Union Minister Pratap Sarangi) here,” said Vaishnaw.

During his recent district visit, Vaishnaw took stock of Balasore railway station.

He also ordered the DRM to write ‘Baleswar’ instead of ‘Balasore.’ Subsequently, he visited Jhadheshwar Shiv temple along with Pratap Sarangi and offered prayers.

The minister also donated a life-support ambulance to Balasore District Headquarters Hospital and later visited AIIMS Satellite Hospital.

“After taking stock of the situation at Balasore railway station, I have ordered the general manager and the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) to finish the work of the stairs within eight to nine months. It was a long-time demand of the people,” said Vaishnaw.

During his visit to Balasore, the Union railway minister performed puja at Jhadeswar Mahadev temple. Along with local BJP MP Pratap Sarangi, he was seen cleaning the temple premises.