Bhubaneswar, Mar 24: Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan has been named the BJP candidate from Sambalpur seat in Odisha for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The BJP today announced the names of its candidates for 18 of the 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha, with the party deciding to field Pradhan from Sambalpur constituency.

In a post on X, Pradhan expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP's National President JP Nadda and party's Central Election Committee for trusting him to serve the people of Sambalpur and get their love and blessings.

“It is a great privilege for me to get the opportunity to represent Sambalpur, the holy land of Maa Samlei. Modiji’s guarantee, track record of 10 years and due to the hard work of party activists, we will win the vote and trust of the citizens of Sambalpur and all over the country,” Pradhan posted on X in Odia.

Popularly known as the “Ujjwala Man", Pradhan is credited with being the longest serving Union Minister from the State of Odisha.

Pradhan had first made his Lok Sabha debut in 2004 from Deogarh constituency in Odisha.  He was also elected as the member of the Rajya Sabha for two terms each from Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.

When the BJP swept to power at the Centre in 2014 general elections, Pradhan was made Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas with independent charge under the Narendra Modi government.

Also Read: Lok Sabha Polls: BJP Announces Candidates For Odisha, Fields Dharmendra Pradhan From Sambalpur

In a cabinet reshuffle in 2017, Pradhan was elevated to the Cabinet rank for the same Ministry, with an additional charge of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. He again was made a Cabinet Minister in Modi government 2.0.

In 2021, Pradhan was made the Union Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and tasked with the implementation of the new National Education Policy (NEP).

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Pradhan, who hails from Talcher, was born on June 26, 1969 in Odisha. He is the son of Debendra Pradhan who was also a Minister of State in the Vajpayee government between 1999 and 2004.