ROURKELA, April 22 -- Finally, BJP has declared former Union Minister Dilip Ray as its MLA candidate for Rourkela Assembly seat for the 2024 simultaneous elections in the State.
Of course, it was presumed from the day Ray knocked on the door of the Delhi High Court, seeking a stay order on his three years' conviction pronounced by the CBI Court in October 2020 for his alleged involvement as Union Minister of State for Coal in irregularities of coal block allotment in Jharkhand. But it was always in suspense whether he would prefer a ticket from BJD or BJP. However, the speculation was put to an end after BJD declared sitting MLA and Minister Sarada Prasad Nayak as its candidate for Rourkela on April 5.
With Ray getting the ticket from BJP...