Pradeep Pattanayak

The Brajarajnagar by-election is headed for a three-cornered high pitch political battle with the Congress fielding senior leader and former Minister Kishore Chandra Patel as its candidate for the Assembly segment. 

Congress President Sonia Gandhi approved Patel’s candidature on Monday after recommendation of his name by the OPCC. 

Earlier in the day, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) had named Alaka Mohanty as its candidate for the by-poll. She is the wife of the party leader and MLA late Kishore Kumar Mohanty, whose demise necessitated the by-poll. Mohanty died following a cardiac arrest on December 30, 2021. 

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is the first off the blocks to announce its candidate for the by-poll. The saffron party had named its senior leader Radharani Panda as its candidate on May 8. 

As per the notification issued by the State Election Commission, the by-election to the Brajarajnagar seat will be held on May 31. While the last date of filing nomination papers is May 11, scrutiny will be conducted on May 12. The last date for withdrawal of nomination papers is May 17.

The entire election process will be completed by June 5 with June 3 being set as the date for counting of votes.
 

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