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3 royal scions may fight on BJD tickets

BHUBANESWAR: Three descendants of royal families in Odisha are likely to make an electoral debut this time. Well-educated and smart, the royal scions are already in circulation in the segments from where they want to contest.

Arkesh Singhdeo, 32, grandson of former chief minister Rajendra Narayan Singhdeo and son of former minister and BJD veteran A U Singhdeo, is keen to fight from Balangir assembly segment.

The young scion was hoping for a ticket in 2014, but BJD fielded his father. But, the senior Singhdeo lost to Narasingha Mishra (Congress), who is now leader of opposition.

“I have been working hard at the grassroots-level for the past six years. I have strengthened the party organization. I am also in touch with the people of my area,” Arkesh, who has done BA in history honours from Sunrise University, Rajasthan, told TOI. He is an alumni of Doon School, Dehradun. “I am currently pursuing my masters degree through correspondence from the University of London,” he said.

Arkesh’s elder brother Kalikesh Narayan Singhdeo is a sitting MP from Balangir. He had taken the plunge into electoral politics in 2004 and won from Saintala assembly seat. After Saintala was abolished in 2009 delimitation, Kalikesh switched over to Balangir parliamentary segment.

Kalahandi MP Arka Keshari Deo’s wife Malavika Devi will be entering the fray for the first time. She is hoping to get a BJD ticket from her husband’s seat or Junagarh assembly segment. Malavika, who is an MBA, had campaigned with her husband in 2014 election. She is also a social worker. “I am interested to fight the election and serve people as their representative. It is up to the party from which place it fields me as a candidate,” she said.

This election will also witness a royal scion from Gajapati district entering the fray. Kalyani Devi, the great granddaughter of erstwhile king of Paralakhemundi Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati, recently joined BJD and met chief minister Naveen Patnaik. She is the daughter of Gopinath Gajapati, who was Congress’ MP from Berhampur twice from 1989-1991 and 1991-1996.

Kalyani is an alumnus of Christ College, Bengaluru. She was earlier staying in Chennai. “I come from a political family. It is up to the chief minister to take a call on my candidature,” she said.

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