Bhubaneswar, Apr 20: Nimapada MLA Samir Dash, who has been denied a BJD ticket for the Assembly seat this time, put an indirect challenge against the party leadership's decision by organising and addressing a huge rally of his supporters at Barabati Padia at Nimapada today. 

Dash came up with the show of strength a day after he, with tearful eyes, appealed to the BJD chief and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to change his decision and give him the ticket for the Assembly segment. 

According to reports, about 30,000 people came from different parts of the constituency to show their solidarity with Dash. The MLA delivered an emotional speech and thanked them for being with him. He urged the Chief Minister and VK Pandian to declare him as the candidate for the seat. 

Notably, the BJD has named Dilip Mallick as the candidate for the Assembly seat this time. 

Dash, against whom an accusing finger was raised vis-a-vis the suicide of local BJD leader Dharmendra Sahoo, was ousted from the Council of Ministers in the last reshuffle.  

"I am hopeful of getting a party ticket for the Nimapada seat. If I am not given a ticket, I will talk to my people and take an appropriate decision," Dash put an indirect challenge to the BJD leadership

He, however, averted a question as to what step he might take in case he is denied a ticket by the party despite his appeal. 

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