Speculation rife over Vaishnaw contesting from Cuttack LS seat

Bhubaneswar/Athagarh: Amid speculation suggesting Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw might be fielded from Cuttack Lok Sabha constituency, the senior BJP leader on Sunday said he is a disciplined worker of the party who always follows the party’s instructions.

Speaking to mediapersons at Athagarh in Cuttack district, Vaishnaw said: “I am a disciplined worker of the party and I perform whatever task the party assigns to me. Recently, the party asked me to work in the Madhya Pradesh elections, which I followed accordingly.”

Vaishnaw on Sunday performed ‘puja’ at the frequently-visited Dhabaleswar Shiva temple in Athagarh. Later, he interacted with BJP workers and participated in different party programmes in Badamba, Narasinghpur and Athagarh areas of the district.

At Panchagaon, he attended a football tournament and congratulated the players.

Vaishnaw also met party workers, including BJP’s Cuttack district president, at a programme at the party office in Banki area of Cuttack on Saturday evening. Following his visits to Cuttack district at regular intervals for the last one year, it has been speculated that the party might field the Union minister from Cuttack Lok Sabha constituency in the upcoming General Elections. Some rumours also claim he might contest from Balasore.

Vaishnaw, who joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1994, held the post of Collector of Cuttack district between 2001 and 2003.