Bhubaneswar: After the announcement of the name of Rudra Pratap Maharathy as BJD's candidate for the upcoming Pipili bypoll, speculations are doing rounds that his mother Prativa, wife of late MLA Pradeep Maharathy was unhappy over the party's decision.
A group of senior leaders from the ruling party had visited Prativa and met her at Saheed Nagar in the city yesterday to pacify her.
Even as the party leaders indicated Prativa's displeasure indirectly, she is yet to clear the air on the speculations.
"Everyone has the aspiration to get ticket so also the mother and her son. But, there is no rift or displeasure between them," BJD vice president Debi Prasad Mishra said.
Her daughter Pallavi and son-in-law Ardhendu have, however, denied such speculations.
"Son is the biggest strength and a backbone for a mother during time of trouble. Speculation of a rift between mother-son is not acceptable," Pallavi said.
Similarly, Ardhendu said "We wanted somebody from our family to contest the bypoll. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has decided Rudra to fight the battle. So, we all are happy and united in the family."
Party insiders said that delay in the announcement of the candidature was only due to the growing aspiration between mother and son to fight the bypoll.
On the other hand, BJP candidate Ashrit Pattanayak, who has already filed his nomination papers, already commenced ground works for the by-election with meeting with party leaders and chalking out strategies to occupy the seat.
"We will reach people with the Centre's welfare activities and irregularities by the BJD leaders in various central programmes in the State," Ashrit said.
Similarly, Rudra Pratap is scheduled to file his papers on March 30. Prior to the nomination, BJD poll observer Pratap Deb and other leaders have chalked out action plan at the residence of Labour Minister Sushant Singh.
"Naveen Patnaik is reigning in the hearts of the people which is our biggest strength. Strategies are being planned to retain the Pipili seat," Deb said.
On the other hand, Odisha Congress which had recommended three names for the bypoll is waiting for the AICC's approval.
Senior Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati said that finalisation of candidate will be completed by tomorrow (Sunday). Our contest will be a fight against corruption in Pipili."