Bhubaneswar: Former chief minister of Odisha Giridhar Gamang didn’t find a place in the first list of the Congress party that was released today. None of his family members also got any chance to contest poll on party ticket.
Gamang was once a most powerful leader in undivided Koraput district. The eight-time MP and his son Sisir Gamang had quit Congress in 2019 and joined the BJP. Giridhar’s wife Hema Gamang, a former MP, had joined the BJD. While BJP had fielded Sisir from Gunupr Assembly seat in 2019, his mother Hema had contested the poll from Laxmipur on BJD ticket. However, both mother-son duo had to face the defeat.
Later, Giridhar and his family members had joined the BRS. Months later, they all came back to Congress fold. However, no one from his family managed to secure a ticket from the Congress.
Another tribal heavyweight of Koraput district, Jayram Pangi also faced similar fate. Pangi had won election on BJD ticket several times in past. He left BJD before 2019 and joined the BJP which had fielded him from Koraput Lok Sabha seat. He lost the election. Later, Pangi left BJP and joined BRS. Within 2-3 months, resigned from BRS and embraced the Congress. He was also an aspirant for the Congress ticket from the Pattangi seat in the 2024 general elections.
The Congress has given ticket to Ramachandra Kadam from Pattangi.
The Congress today announced candidates for eight Lok Sabha seat and 49 Assembly constituencies in Odisha.
