BHUBANESWAR: Inspired by Narendra Modi’s journey from a chai wallah to the prime minister’s chair, 26-year-old tea seller Sukanta Ghadai has decided to throw his hat in the ring as an Independent candidate from Brahmagiri assembly segment in Puri district.
“If Modiji, who used to sell tea, can become the prime minister, why can’t I? I know I will lose the and my security deposit of Rs 10,000.But I am not worried,” said Ghadai, whose affidavit attributed his source of income to his tea stall.
Ghadai, a school dropout, seems to be one of the poorest candidates in fray having declared his movable and immovable assets as nil. He has been running the tea stall in Brahmagiri for the last three years.
Asked about the motive behind contesting the election, Ghadai said he wanted to fight against corruption and poverty. “I know I cannot be elected to the assembly. I cannot do anything now to stop corruption. I just made the start by filing my nomination. My fight will continue,” said Ghadai, a resident of Karimpur village.
Ghadai, who has studied up to Class IX, came down heavily on the elected representatives for doing very little for the development of Brahmagiri in all these years. Ghadai said people should open their eyes and vote for the right candidate.
Given a chance, Ghadai said his priorities would be to safeguard Hindutva, curb cow smuggling and raise the socio-economic standards of the poor.
Debutant Ghadai faces BJD’s Umakanta Samantaray, BJP’s Upasna Mohapatra and Congress nominee Mitrabhanu Mohapatra in the poll battle.
Brahmagiri assembly constituency comes under Puri Lok Sabha seat where polling is scheduled to be held on May 25. Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra was elected from Brahmagiri on a Congress ticket in 1995, 2000 and 2004. BJD’s Sanjay Das Burma wrested the seat from Congress in 2009 and 2014. Lalatendu’s brother Lalitendu won from the Brahmagiri seat on a BJP ticket in 2019. BJP nominee Upasna is the daughter of late Congress MLA Lalatendu.
“If Modiji, who used to sell tea, can become the prime minister, why can’t I? I know I will lose the and my security deposit of Rs 10,000.But I am not worried,” said Ghadai, whose affidavit attributed his source of income to his tea stall.
Ghadai, a school dropout, seems to be one of the poorest candidates in fray having declared his movable and immovable assets as nil. He has been running the tea stall in Brahmagiri for the last three years.
Asked about the motive behind contesting the election, Ghadai said he wanted to fight against corruption and poverty. “I know I cannot be elected to the assembly. I cannot do anything now to stop corruption. I just made the start by filing my nomination. My fight will continue,” said Ghadai, a resident of Karimpur village.
Ghadai, who has studied up to Class IX, came down heavily on the elected representatives for doing very little for the development of Brahmagiri in all these years. Ghadai said people should open their eyes and vote for the right candidate.
Given a chance, Ghadai said his priorities would be to safeguard Hindutva, curb cow smuggling and raise the socio-economic standards of the poor.
Debutant Ghadai faces BJD’s Umakanta Samantaray, BJP’s Upasna Mohapatra and Congress nominee Mitrabhanu Mohapatra in the poll battle.
Brahmagiri assembly constituency comes under Puri Lok Sabha seat where polling is scheduled to be held on May 25. Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra was elected from Brahmagiri on a Congress ticket in 1995, 2000 and 2004. BJD’s Sanjay Das Burma wrested the seat from Congress in 2009 and 2014. Lalatendu’s brother Lalitendu won from the Brahmagiri seat on a BJP ticket in 2019. BJP nominee Upasna is the daughter of late Congress MLA Lalatendu.