Bhubaneswar: With all eyes now on the poll for Patkura Assembly seat following the death of sitting MLA and BJD candidate Bed Prakash Agawaralla, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik today moved the Election Commission of India with a petition to postpone the polls rescheduled to be held on May 19, in view of the possible landfall of cyclone Fani.
Terming it a conspiracy to stall the polls, BJP's candidate Bijoy Mohapatra dared Odisha CM to contest from Patkura.
The polling for the Patkura seat, which was supposed to be held in the fourth and final phase on April 29, was adjourned following the death of BJD candidate Bed Prakash Agarwalla.
“Polling for one seat is left and since day one, the ruling party has been busy in hatching a conspiracy to stall the elections in Patkura. Today, another conspiracy was made to stop the elections,” said Mohapatra.
“Instead of wasting time for such conspiracies, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik should contest from Patkura Assembly seat and file his nomination,” Mohapatra added.
In another development, late Bed Prakash Agawaralla’s wife Sabita today filed her nomination as BJD candidate for the upcoming Patkura elections. BJD president Naveen had nominated Sabita as the party’s candidate for the upcoming elections yesterday.