Bhubaneswar/Bargarh: At a time when the Congress and the BJP are yet to finalise candidates for the Bijepur bypoll, BJD's candidate and late Bijepur MLA Subal Sahu's wife, Rita Sahu today informed she will file the nomination for the by-election on February 5.
Speaking to the media after a meeting at Naveen Nivas here on Sunday, Rita said, "I will file my nomination papers on February 5 and am confident of winning the by-election."
“From day one, BJD is prepared for the bypoll. With each passing day more and more people from the constituency are joining the party,” said the party's vice-president Prasanna Acharya.
"It has been months since BJD declared the party's candidate. We are ready for the bypoll and BJD will definitely win the bypoll," Acharya said.
Meanwhile, sarpanch and samiti member of Gaisilat block under Bijepur constituency along with several people from the block today joined the BJD at the residence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
"I welcome all those from the Gaisilat block who joined the party today. It will strengthen the party," said CM Naveen.
Earlier today, several BJD leaders along with Rita met at Naveen Nivas to chalk out the strategy for the bypoll.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday announced the dates for the bye-election in Bijepur Assembly Constituency of Odisha that was necessitated by the death of Congress MLA Subal Sahu.
The voting for the bypoll will be held on February 24 while the counting and results will be declared on February 28. As per the schedule, while the last date for filing nomination is February 6, the candidates can withdraw their candidatures by February 9.