Bhubaneswar: An MLA aspirant today rode an e-cycle to file his nomination for the upcoming Assembly polls in Odisha.

Sidharth Routray, the Congress nominee for Nimapara Assembly seat in Puri district, rode the e-cycle for filing his nomination for the 2024 polls in the state.

Sidharth, the elder son of Jatni MLA Suresh Kumar Routray, rode the e-cycle apparently to create awareness on the issues of environmental pollution and climate change among the people.

Sidharth, a mountaineer, began his journey for Additional District Magistrate (ADM) office at Puri town from Haripur at Nimapara at around 6.30 am.

He took around four hours to reach the holy town by riding the e-cycle. He was greeted by the locals and Congress workers at various places on his way to Puri. Sidharth filed his nomination at the ADM office after offering prayers before Lord Jagannath at Srimandir.

Sidharth is pitted against BJD’s Dillip Nayak and BJP’s Pravati Parida from Nimapara constituency.

Sidharth’s younger brother Manmath Routray is now contesting the Lok Sabha polls for Bhubaneswar seat on a BJD ticket.

Notably, Suresh Kumar Routray, a six-time MLA, has been expelled from the Congress party for six years over allegations of indiscipline and anti-party activities recently.