The special train to Delhi with workers of BJD from Sambalpur, Bargarh, Boudh, Sonepur, Balangir and Phulbani districts left Sambalpur railway station on Monday evening. The train has 22 sleeper compartments.
Although 60 workers from each Assembly segment were supposed to attend the ‘Swabhiman Samabesh’ at New Delhi, their number has been more from many segments.
While Sambalpur has four Assembly segments, Bargarh has five, Phulbani three, Sonepur and Boudh two each and Balangir has five segments.
Workers accompanied by their leaders reached Sambalpur railway station ahead of time and the station bustled with activities with BJD workers raising slogans intermittently. Leaders who were leading their respective workers said it was an uphill task to shortlist 60 workers. They said though more than 60 workers joined from many places, many have either left or will reach New Delhi in time on their own to attend the ‘Samabesh’.
Prominent leaders who were spotted at the railway station included Sonepur MLA and Industries Minister Niranjan Pujari and Athamallick MLA and former Minister Sanjib Sahu. Sources said many more leaders and legislators will join the workers enroute. The train will go via Titlagarh, Raipur and Nagpur to New Delhi. Former minister Sanatan Bisi was in charge of the Samabesh for Sambalpur district. The district has four Assembly segments of Sambalpur, Rengali, Kuchinda and Rairakhol.