Odisha man who walked 1500km to meet PM Modi declines to contest polls

Bhubaneswar: An idol maker who was nominated by the Congress to contest polls from Rourkela assembly segment declined the offer.

Muktikanta Biswal hogged the limelight after he walked 1500 km to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi over upgradation of Ispat General Hospital (IGH) and second bridge over Brahmani river.

The 31-year-old undertook the 71-day-long walkathon to remind the PM of his unfulfilled promises.

The Central Election Committee (CEC) late of Friday night had released a list of 54 candidates where Biswal found mention in the list. However, resentment over his candidature was voiced at a meeting presided over by former district unit president Biren Senapati yesterday.

This ostensibly prompted Biswal to change his mind to contest upcoming polls.

I will not contest from Rourkela seat. I will continue my fight for super-speciality hospital at IGH and second bridge over Brahmani river, Biswal said.