Prasanna’s twist on Bijepur battle after Subal's family joins BJD

Bhubaneswar: A day after late Subal Sahu's wife Rita openly showed her interest to contest Bijepur by-poll on BJD ticket, party senior leader and MP Prasanna Acharya's speculative statement on the possible party candidate has charged up the political atmosphere in the State today.

Acharya, who is considered to be a western Odisha strong man of BJD and was the main rival of late Subal Sahu, has brought a twist stating that no one's candidature has yet been finalised by the party.

"The Election Commission is yet to notify the date of election. No other parties have declared their candidates. As per tradition, our party chief takes views of leaders from all sections in the party before finalising a candidate. So, he will announce the right candidate at the right time", Acharya said. His statement sparked off a speculation in political circle that BJD is unlikely to field the deceased legislator’s wife.

Talks are also doing round that Prasanna and some others in the party are not in favour of Rita Sahu even as her family has pinned hope on the party supremo to get his support.

"We hope that he (Naveen Patnaik) will give us ticket to contest the by-election," said Sumit, son of Subal Sahu.

Meanwhile, Congress has short-listed three names to capture its Bijepur bastion though it has not declared the names. Party insiders said the three probable candidates include a former minister and two strong district organisers.