Prasanna Patasani spends time with his grandson at home in Bhubaneswar. Pictures by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar/Cuttack, April 18: Hectic schedules and rigorous campaigns had almost altered the lifestyle of the warring candidates in the fray for the parliamentary and Assembly constituencies. With the polling over and the counting scheduled for May 16, many are thinking of ways to unwind.

While Shiridi tops the chart of many leaders to seek divine blessings, most want to divide their time between their family and party activities.

ASPIRING MPs

Bhubaneswar

Veteran actor Bijay Mohanty, 64, a Congress candidate, says: “I do not have any shooting plan now because of the heat. I will take complete rest for at least 15 days. I am also planning to go to Shiridi to visit Sai Baba.”

Outgoing MP and BJD candidate Prasanna Patasani, 71, feels free from tension after the poll. “Tomorrow I will go to Puri. Later, I will attend several yagnas. Besides, I will go on a pilgrimage with my family to Siddhi Vinayak and Shiridi,” he says.

Prithiviraj Harichandan, 46, the BJP candidate, says: “I will go to Shiridi to seek blessings of Sai Baba. Then I will meet party workers and those who had worked for me. I will also meet people who have supported me.”

Entrepreneur Sunjoy Hans, 50, of the Aama Odisha Party candidate, says: “My daughter, who is doing her MBA in Madrid, had come for a day to vote. With the elections over, I have decided to go with my daughter and spend some time in Spain. But before that, I will visit Shiridi with my family. Besides, I will thank my supporters and friends.”

Hectic campaigning over, Prithiviraj Harichandan reads at home

Cuttack

BJD candidate Bhartruhari Mahtab, 57, seems confident of continuing his life as an MP and writer. “As counting is three weeks away, I will resume work of visiting my constituency and meeting people,” he says.

Former minister and BJP candidate Samir Dey, 57, chilled out with friends. “After a month of frenzied activities, I will keep myself stress-free,’’ he says.

ASPIRING MLAs

Bhubaneswar

Amiya Dash, 42, the BJP candidate from Ekamra, says: “We cannot relax until the counting is over. I will be meeting my supporters and cannot think of a vacation now.”

Shivananda Ray, 65, the Congress MLA candidate from Ekamra, feels the poll battle is still on. “We have noticed several flaws in the poll process and I want to draw the attention of the election authorities to these issues,” he said.

BJD candidate from Ekamra Ashok Chandra Panda, 59, wants to spend time with family members.

“Once my wife’s school is closed, we will go on a trip, but will return before May 16,’’ he says.

BJD MLA Bijay Kumar Mohanty, 50, from the Bhubaneswar (Central) constituency says: “I want to go to thank the people and meet community leaders.’’

BJP candidate from Bhubaneswar (Central) Jagannath Pradhan, 45, plans to meet party workers and campaign organisers. “I will also visit temples of Goddesses Tarini, Mangala and Lord Jagannath,’’ he says.

Sunjoy Hans back at his office in Bhubaneswar

Congress candidate from Bhubaneswar (North) Manoranjan Dash, 55, says: “I will spend time with family and work to strengthen the party base here.’’

Cuttack

BJD candidate from Barabati-Cuttack Debashis Samantaray, 54, plans to take a short break from political activities. “Meeting people and attending to their problems is an unavoidable schedule for us. I plan to go to Pondicherry and spend time with my family,’’ says Samantaray.

Cuttack City Congress Committee president Mohammed Moquim, 48, and party candidate from the Barabati-Cuttack seat says: “After four months of hectic activities that began with the civic polls in February, today was a much relaxed morning and I woke up at 9am. After my Friday prayer, I was busy reviewing reports from polling agents.”

“I have already received a call from the high command. In a day, I will leave for New Delhi to join the party’s campaign team to Uttar Pradesh,” he said.

BJD’s candidate from Choudwar-Cuttack Pravat Ranjan Biswal, 47, was looking forward to ‘political chores’, while his Congress rival Suresh Mohapatra, 57, is busy taking stock of polling trends.

“Irrespective of the outcome, I will continue with my routine political life,’’ Mohapatra said.

BJP’s candidate from the same seat, Nayan Kishore Mohanty, 52, says: “I am reviewing the reports of my party workers and polling agents to assess the party’s winning prospects.”

BJP contender from Barabati-Cuttack Pradip Swain, 57, slept long to unwind himself after days of hectic schedule. His party candidate from Cuttack-Sadar Dilip Mallik, 45, says: “Whether I win or not, I will continue to work for the people.”

His Congress rival, Chandrasekhar Samal, 41, however, plans a short break from political activity.