Odisha: BJD, BJP gear up for Padampur assembly bypoll after Dhamnagar results

Both the BJD and BJP have decided to entrust the campaign responsibility for the upcoming assembly by-election in Padampur in Bargarh district to senior leaders of the respective parties

Published on: Nov 8, 2022, 21:18:01 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) victory against the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJP) in the Dhamnagar assembly bypoll in Odisha on Sunday, both the parties have now decided to entrust the campaign responsibility for the upcoming assembly by-election in Padampur in Bargarh district to senior leaders of the respective parties.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik-led BJD suffered its first-ever defeat in a bypoll since 2009 in Odisha on Sunday. (ANI File Photo)

In Dhamnagar, the BJD suffered its first-ever defeat in a bypoll since 2009 as the party’s candidate Abanti Das lost to the BJP’s Suryabanshi Suraj, son of the deceased BJP MLA Bishnu Sethi. The bypoll in Padampur, necessitated following the demise of 64-year-old BJD MLA and prominent tribal leader Bijaya Ranjan Singh Bariha on October 3, has been scheduled for December 5.

Though the BJD expected to snatch the Dhamnagar seat from the BJP with its younger leaders led by party organisational secretary Pranab Prakash Das helming the campaign, it led to an open revolt with former MLA Rajendra Das contesting as an independent candidate. Das dented the BJD’s poll prospects as he polled over 8,100 votes.

Unwilling to take any chance for the assembly bypolls in Padampur, chief minister Naveen Patnaik has asked former Rajya Sabha MP and veteran BJD leader Prasanna Acharya to head the campaign in the constituency.

Apart from Acharya, three BJD ministers have been asked to look after one block each as part of the party’s strategy to woo voters. Niranjan Pujari will look after the Padampur block while Naba Das would take charge of the Paikamal block. Rajendra Dholakia has been allotted the Jharbandha block.

Besides, BJD leaders Tukuni Sahu, Debesh Acharya, Snehangini Chhuria, Rita Sahu, Saroj Meher and Puspendra Singhdeo have been asked to campaign in the constituency.

Meanwhile, enthused by the Dhamnagar win, the BJP has decided to entrust veteran leader and Bargarh MP Suresh Pujari, Kalahandi MP Basant Panda and leader of Opposition Jay Narayan Mishra in charge of the campaign in Padampur. BJP state in-charge Sunil Bansal and senior leader Daggubati Purandeswari will soon visit Padampur to take stock of the party’s preparedness.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

Home/Cities/Others/Odisha: BJD, BJP gear Up For Padampur Assembly Bypoll After Dhamnagar Results