**Bhubaneswar:** While political and media circles are abuzz over Prime Minister Narendra Modi contesting the 2019 general elections from Puri Lok Sabha constituency of Odisha, last evening Modi put rest to all the speculations by terming it as a rumour.
Speaking to news agency ANI on New Year’s Day, when Modi was asked if contesting from Puri was on cards, the PM replied, “Mediawaalon ko bhi toh kuch kaam milna chahiye na…kuch na kuch chalta rehta hai” (Media always needs something to discuss).
The State had been abuzz with talks over Modi’s candidature from Puri since September last year, when senior BJP MLA Pradip Purohit had said that the Prime Minister’s charisma has a National appeal and he can contest from any seat across the country. “The possibility of Narendra Modi contesting from Puri cannot be ruled out. The PM loves Odisha and is dedicated for the development of the State. In the near future, if he announces his candidature from Puri, there is nothing to be surprised about it.”
In 2014, Modi had sprang a surprise by asking incumbent Varanasi MP and the then BJP stalwart Murli Manohar Joshi to relocate to Kanpur and announced his own candidature from holy land of Hindus. With 2019 polls approaching closer, the political fervor had gathered momentum along with the speculations on ‘which constituency will Modi handpick this time’. While political deductions said Modi is likely to contest from the Pilgrim Town Puri in 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Prime Minister has put all these speculations to rest.
**Also Read:** [Possibility Of Modi Contesting From Puri: BJP](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/possibility-of-modi-contesting-from-puri-bjp)
**Also Read:** [Will Prime Minister Narendra Modi Contest 2019 Elections From Puri?](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/will-prime-minister-narendra-modi-contest-2019-elections-from-puri-)