An alumnus of IIT and a former pilot are in the fray in the district to test their electoral fortunes in the ensuing polls.

Thirty-seven-year-old Satyabrata Prusty, an MTech pass out from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), New Delhi, in 1999, is contesting from Korei Assembly constituency on the Aam Admi Party (AAP) ticket.

Rajnarayan Mohapatra, a pilot, has served Spring Texla America for four years and also private airlines such as Air Deccan, Kingfisher and Indigo for 10 years. He is contesting from Barchana constituency as an Independent candidate.

Prusty was working with a software firm and left the job to join the party last year after being inspired by AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal.

He has been active in Korei since September last year.

The ruling BJD has fielded cine star Akash Das Nayak while the Congress has nominated a new face Biswajit Nayak. Sanchita Mohanty of BJP, who had represented the seat once, is also in the fray. Prusty hopes to garner the support of youths and intelligentsia.

“The ruling BJD had failed to provide basic amenities such as safe drinking water to all villages, health care facilities, roads and others over the past 14 years,” said Prusty.

At his meetings, he raises questions on unemployment and points out that educated youths of the area have not been provided employment in the Kalinga Nagar steel hub.

“It’s high time educated people and professionals enter politics and clean the system. Unless people with honesty and integrity are elected to state Assembly, the situation will not improve,” he said.

Rajnarayan Mohapatra comes from a political family background. His father Sitakanta Mohapatra has represented the Barachana seat in the state Assembly in the past.

He decided to enter into poll battle after his father was denied a Congress ticket this time. He faces a tough challenge from the sitting BJD MLA Amar Prasad Satpathy.

He is banking on the strong organisation and popularity of his father, who is also a former minister.

“My father has done many things for Barachana during his tenure as an MLA and a minister. Besides, he has a strong organisational base in the constituency.”