Bhubaneswar/Bargarh: Clearing the air, Odisha Chief Minister and BJD President Naveen Patnaik today declared late Subal Sahu's wife Rita as the party candidate for the bypoll in Bijepur Assembly constituency.
The bypoll was necessitated by the death of Congress MLA, Subal Sahu.
“Yes, I think Rita Sahu will be our candidate,” said Patnaik while answering to media queries.
The announcement came a day after BJD’s Rajya Sabha member Prasanna Acharya had stoked doubts saying the party is yet to decide on the candidate even after Rita, her sons Sumit and Saurabh along with thousands of followers joined the BJD on September 23.
“I thank the CM for reposing faith on me. My husband had always dreamt of all-round development of Bijepur and I will ensure fulfilment of his dream," said Rita.
Meanwhile, resentment surfaced within BJD over Rita’s candidature. BJD workers of Barpali, Gaisilet and Bijepur blocks today met the party’s Bargarh district president, Bijay Ranjan Singh Bariha and submitted a letter addressed to the CM opposing candidature of Rita.
Also Read: Prasanna’s Twist On Bijepur Battle After Subal’s Family Joins BJD
“We are being neglected by the party. The decision has been made without taking the consent of party workers here. This will lead to conflict,” said former, district president Prabhat Aditya Mishra.
Party’s district observer Prafulla Mallik said, “It’s obvious that resentment will brew among party workers who were hoping to get BJD ticket but we will discuss about it and resolve the issue as soon as possible.”
However, Acharya denied any conflict saying reports of resentment in BJD is media exaggeration. “BJD is united and it will win the by-poll. There is no doubt in it,” he said.
On the other hand, Congress claimed that as many as seven names have been shortlisted by the party out of which it will select one soon.
“Subal Sahu was wining because of Congress. He was a good leader but his family betrayed his ideology. We have a strong base in Bijepur and will win the seat again,” said senior Congress leader, Suresh Routray.
Meanwhile, the BJP is reportedly eying to rope in ex-BJD MLA from the constituency, Ashok Panigrahi. However, BJP’s vice-president Samir Mohanty said the party’s parliamentary board will announce the name of its candidate soon.
Also Read: Subal Sahu’s wife to contest Bijepur bypoll on BJD ticket
On the other hand, Panigrahi who was believed to be harbouring hopes of getting a BJD ticket came down heavily on the CM soon after the announcement of Rita’s name accusing him of neglecting the real workers of BJD and ‘Biju Paribar’. In his letter to Naveen, he threatened that BJD will face the music in the bypoll.
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