Will Not Contest Lok Sabha Polls From Odisha's Balasore: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Speculations were rife that the BJP may field Ashwini Vaishnaw, a Rajya Sabha MP, in the Balasore seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He has been the district collector of Balasore.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday said he will not contest the Lok Sabha elections from the Balasore seat in Odisha, putting speculations to rest.

Speculations were rife that the BJP may field Vaishnaw, a Rajya Sabha MP, in the Balasore seat in the Lok Sabha elections. He was the district collector of Balasore as an IAS officer.

"I will not contest from Balasore. We have Pratap 'Nana' here," he told reporters, referring to sitting BJP MP Pratap Sarangi, who is a former Union minister.