Following the footsteps of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a tea vendor from Odisha has entered the race for the state assembly.
Image source: ANI
Sukanta Ghadai, aged 26, earns a modest income by selling tea. He has submitted his nomination to run for office in the Brahmagiri assembly constituency located in the Puri district. Hailing from Karimpur village, Ghadai is considered one of the least affluent candidates participating in the upcoming state assembly elections, scheduled to take place on May 25 alongside the Lok Sabha polls.
In the affidavit submitted with his nomination papers, the tea vendor stated that he possesses no movable or immovable assets. Ghadai, an Independent candidate in the running, expressed his inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He pointed out that if a tea seller like Modi could rise to become the prime minister, then why couldn’t another tea seller like himself be elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA)? Ghadai affirmed his commitment to fight against corruption and serve the people sincerely if elected as the representative of Brahmagiri, his constituency.
Ghadai expressed his aspirations to lead the constituency towards self-sufficiency and honesty, highlighting his intentions to tackle prevalent issues like bribery in obtaining essential documents and the lack of ambulance accessibility. He also emphasized his commitment to reducing road accidents involving stray cattle, indicating a comprehensive approach to address the challenges faced by the constituency.
Ghadai revealed his unconventional campaign strategy, stating his intention to campaign by bicycle. Encouraging his fellow residents to offer their blessings and support for his first attempt at state legislature membership, Ghadai pledged to fulfil the aspirations of the people and uphold his promises if elected.
Ghadai will be competing against Umakanta Samantaray from the ruling BJD, Upasna Mohapatra from the BJP, and Mitrabhanu Mohapatra from the Congress. The constituency is scheduled to vote on May 25th, along with the rest.
