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Bhubaneswar/Bargarh: All is indeed ‘fair’ in politics. And when a particular poll is seen as a precursor to the upcoming 2019 general elections, it becomes fairer.
Even though the Election Commission is yet to announce dates for the Bijepur bypoll, the ruling-BJD seems to be leaving no stone unturned to woo voters.
After announcing a mega Rs 1,240 crore-lift irrigation project in the area, the State government today accorded Notified Area Council (NAC) status to Bijepur town.
Besides, according NAC status to Bijepur town in Bargarh district today, the Odisha government also announced setting up of a sub-registrar office in the town. As per the statement issued by the State government, the sub-registrar office would serve the residents of at least 110 villages in the region.
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"Fulfilling long-standing demands of people, CM approved sub-registrar office & Notified Area Council (NAC) status for Bijepur," the CMO said in a tweet.
The decision comes ahead of the bypoll in Bijepur assembly constituency, which has been necessitated by the death of Congress MLA Subal Sahu on August 22.
A couple of days ago, the State government had announced the first underground pipeline-based lift irrigation system in the region (named after renowned Odia poet Gangadhar Meher).
"People here have been demanding NAC status for a long time now. They are happy with the initiatives taken by the state government," BJD vice president, Prasanna Acharya said.
Similarly, BJD MP Prabhas Singh said BJD’s motive behind according the NAC status to Bijepur is solely for development of the region and the euphoria among the people following the announcement is a testament to it.
Also Read: CM announces sop for by-poll ready Bijepur
Taking a dig at the BJD government, Congress MLA Naba Das said the ruling party is thinking it will win the Bijepur bypoll by making such announcements. “They are daydreaming just like ‘Mungerilal ke Haseen Sapne’. People are with us and Congress will definitely win the bypoll,” said Das.
While the BJD has already declared Subal Sahu's wife Rita as its candidate for the bypoll, the BJP is likely to rope in Ashok Panigrahi, the former BJD MLA of Bijepur constituency who recently joined BJP.
Meanwhile, the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) today held a meeting at the party headquarters in Bhubaneswar to finalise its strategy for the bypoll.
According to sources, four former OPCC chiefs will be in-charge of three blocks, and one NAC in the constituency. While former Chief Minister Hemananda Biswal will spearhead the Congress campaign in Bijepur, senior party leader Naba Das will be the coordinator of the Bijepur campaign committee. Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra has been given the charge of overseeing party’s whole campaign in Bijepur.
Also Read: Paper trail machines to be used during Bijepur bypoll
As per reports, Congress will also soon announce its candidate for the bypoll. The party’s former minister and MLA from the constituency Ripu Nath Seth and Pranay Sahu are the frontrunners to get party tickets.
