Sambalpur Lok Sabha election results 2019 Odisha: BJP's Nitin Gangadev leading against BJD's Nalini Pradhan

Sambalpur Lok Sabha constituency  in Odisha voted in the third phase of general elections. Here's a breakup of how candidates fared. 

At 8.15 PM, BJP's Nitin Gangadev leading against BJD's Nalini Pradhan by 14,009 votes. 

Sambalpur Lok Sabha constituency profile: 

Sambalpur, a crucial town in Western Odisha is one of the seats BJP is certainly hopeful of flipping in this Lok Sabha election. 

In 2014. BJP's Suresh Pujari lost by 28 thousand vote to BJD's Nagendra Kumar Pradhan. In 2019,  BJD has dropped Nagendra Pradhan and has roped in Nalini Pradhan. BJP has fielded Nitin Gangadev, sitting Deogarh MLA. Also in the fray is Congress leader Sarat Patnaik. 

The Assembly segments under Sambalpur LS are Kuchinda, Rengali, Sambalpur, Rairakhol, Deogarh, Chhendipada, Athmallik. Except Rairakhol, BJP fared better than BJD in all other assembly segments in the 2017 Panchayat polls. And with Deogarh MLA as the candidate, BJP hopes to seal the deal. 

During the poll campaign, Sambalpur came into headlines when an officer was suspended by EC for violating SPG norms when he tried to check PM Modi's chopper. Historically, Congress has won the seat seven times, most recent in 2014. BJD has won the seat four times, with Prasanna Acharya getting elected thrice in a row. Sambalpur goes to vote on April 23.