Padampur by-election: A test of BJD’s invincibility as BJP fights to fill in

Padampur Constituency continues to remain economically backward even after over two decades of BJD remaining in power in the state.

Padampur Bypoll

On December 5, over 2.5 lakh voters of Padampur Assembly Constituency comprising three Blocks- Jharbandh, Paikmal and Padampur- close to Chhattisgarh, would cast their votes in what is viewed with a lot of interest as the last political battle in Odisha before the state goes to polls in 2024. The constituency had returned in 2019 to a BJD candidate, Bijay Ranjan Singh Bariha whose closest rival, Pradip Purohit of BJP had lost by a margin of 5734 votes. BJD had polled 44.16% of votes in 2009 Election, 36.13% in 2014 and 41.29% in 2019. It emerged winner in 2009 and 2019, while BJP won the seat in 2014. BJP’s vote share has been 19.28% in 2009, 38.66% in 2014 and 38.45% in 2019. Vote share of Congress was 32.41% in 2009, 17.49% in 2014 and 16.25% in 2019.

This by-election comes just days after the ruling BJD tasted defeat in Dhamnagar Constituency. It was a defeat it suffered after winning all by-elections since 2008. In Dhamnagar, the BJP retained its seat by winning with a comfortable margin of 9881 votes. Padampur seat was held by the BJD and a BJP victory here would be significant for many reasons. BJD, therefore, would try its best to ensure it doesn’t happen.