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Updated: Apr 20, 2019 23:02 IST

He is known for his smart one-liners in TV studios, but doctor-turned-politician Sambit Patra, now BJP’s candidate from the Puri Lok Sabha constituency in coastal Odisha, seems to have roles befitting each and every occasion.

While campaigning in Telugu-dominated Penthakata area in Puri on Friday evening, Patra started crooning ‘Telusa Manasa’, the Telugu version of evergreen Hindi hit number Tum Mile Dil Khile from the Hindi movie Criminal. Patra also sang another number “Bangaru Kodipetta” from the superhit movie Magadheera much to the surprise of the Telugu youth in the audience.

Patra later uploaded the video of his crooning on Twitter and tweeted, “Puri has a sizeable Telugu population as well. While campaigning amidst them sang a famous Telugu number on demand. The frenzy in the crowd was palpable, don’t believe? A must watch! Lots of love to my adorable Telugu friends.”

“My favourite politician Dr Sambit Patra sir,” posted one Chinnari Venkatesh on Facebook soon after Patra posted the video. Facebook user Dipankar Dey wrote: “I feel proud that my party has multi talented personalities like respected Sambit Patra ji.”

Elections to the Puri Lok Sabha constituency will be held on April 23 in the third phase and Patra is pitted against BJD’s Pinaki Mishra and Congress candidate Satya Prakash Nayak, a journalist-turned-politician.

Patra, who is also the national spokesperson of the BJP, has created quite a buzz since the day he landed in Puri for filing nominations. His posting of a video of an Odia housewife cooking food on a chullah on social media led to a lot of criticism of the failure of the Centre’s Ujjwala scheme. His subsequent posts having meals with people led to criticism on social media, with users asking whether he is always having meals with people.

But Patra is unfazed. From carrying an image of Lord Jagannath’s idol during a rally to taking baths in ponds, attending community feasts with youngsters, carrying crops over his shoulders, the 45-year-old BJP candidate seems to be trying everything in the book to upstage his BJD rival.

Political analyst Rabi Das said BJP was not expected to give a fight to BJD in Puri that has elected BJD MPs for last several elections. “But Sambit Patra’s unique style of campaigning has ensured that Pinaki Mishra will have a tough fight. Pinaki may have organisational muscle behind him, but Patra is creating a lot of buzz and that is crucial in Lok Sabha polls,” said Das.