Dhenkanal Lok Sabha constituency: Candidates for 2019 LS poll, past results, all updates

Dhenkanal is one of the few Lok Sabha seats in Odisha, where a proper three-faced contest is going on. With three-time MP Tathagata Satapathy bowing out of active politics, the BJD had a hard time in choosing a new candidate. It finally zeroed in on Pallahara sitting MLA Mahesh Sahoo. He will be contesting against former BJP Rajya Sabha MP Rudra Narayan Pani. But the most significant addition in the field of candidates is of Congress, who has nominated KP Singh Deo. 

Veteran KP Singh Deo is a member of the local royal family who has been a six-time MP from Dhenkanal. He lost in 2004 to Tathagata Satapathy and that put a speed breaker in his political career. Kamakhya Prasad Singh Deo in his long illustrious career has been part of the Union government under Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and PV Narasimha Rao. KP Singh Deo, however, fell unwell during the hectic campaigning under the scorching sun and had to be hospitalised. 

In Dhenkanal, the assembly segments are Dhenkanal, Parjanga, Kamakshyanagar, Hindol, Angul, Talcher, Pallahara. The Lok Sabha constituency is largely rural based.Dhenkanal goes to polls on April 23.  Historically, a Congress stronghold, Satpathy ensured BJD domination in Dhenkanal. But with KP Singh Deo, who first won in 1967, in a Swatantra party ticket back as Congress candidate and BJP generally gaining ground across the state, Dhenkanal is on for a photo-finish.