Bhubaneswar, October 5: The BJP Odisha unit on Friday said that party leaders and workers want Prime Minister Narendra Modi to contest from the Puri constituency in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state unit President Basant Panda said the party will forward its proposal to the national leadership in this regard. Pinaki Mishra is the BJD MP from Puri at present.

"We want the Prime Minister to contest the 2019 elections from Puri. However, the final decision will be taken by the BJP Parliamentary Board," said Panda. PM Narendra Modi to Address Rally in Ajmer on Saturday.

He said that the BJP leaders hope that the party's prospects will improve significantly in Odisha if Modi contests from the coastal belt, a stronghold of ruling Biju Janata Dal.  He claimed that the party will bag more than 120 of the 147 Assembly seats. Odisha will witness both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in 2019.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 05, 2018 06:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).