Bhubaneswar: Agriculture minister Ranendra Pratap Swain today rode an old Bajaj scooter while taking out a rally to file his nomination for Athagarh seat for the upcoming Assembly polls in Odisha.

Swain (70), a senior leader of ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), is fighting the Assembly polls from Athagarh seat in Cuttack district for the eighth time in a row.

The seven-time MLA offered prayers at Dhabaleswar shrine before taking out a huge rally to file his nomination at the Sub-Collector’s office at Athagarh.

The Agriculture minister rode a 40-year-old Bajaj Super scooter in the rally before filing his nomination.

This was not the first occasion when the Swain rode his old scooter to file his nomination. He had travelled on the same Bajaj Super scooter before submitting his nominations for Assembly polls in the state in the past.

Hundreds of BJD workers and Swain’s supporters participated in the rally.

“The people of Athagarh have showered their blessings on me for the last several years. I would prefer to accept death than cheating the people of Athagarh,” said Swain.