Cuttack, March 22: The BJP has apparently been left with a Hobson’s choice, with party heavyweights Samir Dey and state secretary Nayan Mohanty choosing to contest from Barabati Cuttack and Choudwar Cuttack Assembly seats, respectively.

For nominating them, it would have to go ahead despite the displeasure of the RSS, known for its clout over party organisational matters in the city. The RSS leaders are apparently unhappy, especially with Dey, and this attitude has come handy for detractors within the party to attempt a change in nomination for the two new constituencies carved out of the Cuttack seat.

However, party sources said both are commonly accepted by the party leadership, sticking to the principle of continuity. Whether this would go down well with the party workers would be known only in the days to come.

A confident Dey has virtually started his campaign seeking election from Barabati Cuttack, which constitutes ward Nos. 1 to 24 and 26 of Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) area. “People of Cuttack have given me the opportunity to serve them by electing me in three successive terms. I will serve them if they give me another chance,” says the former higher education minister.

BJP would contest from the two seats in Cuttack all by itself for the first time after 14 years. Dey had first won from the Cuttack city seat in 1995 in a triangular fight with the Congress and Janata Dal. He retained the seat for the next two terms with the BJD as ally.

Mohanty, also the BJP spokesperson in the state, has already made his line of campaign clear for the Choudwar Cuttack seat. “It is for the people to decide. All the likely candidates of the Congress and BJD have been already tested by them. Why not put me to test this time?” says Mohanty.

Mohanty had contested unsuccessfully from the Sadar Cuttack seat in 2004. Despite the alliance with BJD, he had lost to an Independent candidate. With Sadar Cuttack being declared reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates, the BJP leader had turned to Choudwar Cuttack, which constitutes wards 25, from 27 to 42, 44 and 45 of CMC, Charbatia, Choudwar municipality, Nakhara, Kayalpada, Indranipatna and Agrahat gram panchayats of Tangi-Choudwar block.

Choudwar Assembly constituency, which had elected a BJP candidate in 1999 and a BJD candidate in 2004, has been abolished this time.