Odisha-based party to contest election in 12 states

Bhubaneswar, July 8 (IANS) Kalinga Sena, a fringe political outfit in Odisha Sunday said it has decided to field candidates in 12 states, including in Odisha, in the next Lok Sabha and assembly elections.

Sena president Hemanta Rath told reporters his outfit has already opened offices in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Uttarkhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Assam.

"We are planning to field candidates in about 321 Lok Sabha seats in 12 states including in Odisha in the 2014 Lok Sabha election," he said in a press conference.

Announcing the appointment of Sirish Kumar Sandiyal, a Bhumihar leader of Bihar as Sena national general secretary, Rath said his party which has been working for the all-round development of Odisha since its formation in 2001 will now onwards focus on national issues too.

Sandiyal said the Kalinga Sena wants 30 percent reservation for 'sabarna' (upper caste) people in the country. "We will fight to achieve this goal," he told reporters.