EC announces fresh poll date for Patkura assembly constituency in Odisha - Hindustan Times
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EC announces fresh poll date for Patkura assembly constituency in Odisha

Hindustan Times, Bhubaneswar | ByDebabrata Mohanty
Apr 24, 2019 05:44 PM IST

The Election Commission had adjourned the election for Odisha’s Patkura assembly constituency in Kendrapara district following the death of BJD candidate and former finance minister Bed Prakash Agarwal on April 20.

The Election Commission on Wednesday announced that polling for the Patkura assembly constituency in Odisha’s Kendrapara district which was scheduled for April 29 but was countermanded following the death of BJD candidate and former finance minister Bed Prakash Agarwal, would now be held on May 19.

An old woman voter after casting her vote at a polling booth during the third phase of General Elections 2019 at Bhubaneswar in Odisha on Tuesday.(ANI)
An old woman voter after casting her vote at a polling booth during the third phase of General Elections 2019 at Bhubaneswar in Odisha on Tuesday.(ANI)

The EC had adjourned the election the provisions of sub-section (2) of Section 52 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 following Agarwal’s death on April 20.

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In a fresh notification, the EC on Wednesday said May 1 would be the last date for filing nominations to Patkura and set May 4 as the last date for withdrawal of candidature. The ECI has mentioned May 19 as the date on which poll shall be held, if necessary.

The polling may give BJP leader and former minister Bijoy Mohapatra a fresh lease of life. Mahapatra, who is making a last bid to return to assembly after a long gap of 19 years, views Patkura as his best possible chance. BJD is likely to nominate Agarwal’s son to encash on the sympathy wave generated by the former minister’s death.

In 2000 assembly poll he was not allowed to contest from Patkura after BJD chief Naveen Patnaik withdrew his party ticket just a couple of hours before nominations ended. With not enough time left to file his nomination as independent candidate, Mahapatra could not contest the polls. Since then he has tried several times, either from Patkura or Mahakalpada assembly constituencies, but with little luck.

EC officials however said polling for Lok Sabha election in Patkura which is part of the Kendrapara Lok Sabha constituency would be held on April 29 as scheduled. Patkura assembly segment is crucial for BJP candidate Baijayant Panda, who is contesting from Kendrapara Lok Sabha constituency. A good showing in Patkura would keep him in contention against BJD candidate Anubhav Mohanty.

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