News from

Pradhan was at Badikata under Padampur constituency addressing a public congregation when he targeted the State government over its announcement of Rs 5 lakh loan without interest to women SHGs.

The raid was conducted late at night in presence of women and senior citizens in the house which has been slammed by Patnaik’s family.

Naveen’s move to visit Padampur assumes significance as it comes in the wake of BJD’s defeat in Dhamnagar Assembly by-election that concluded recently.

With the fraction between BJD’s candidate Barsha Singh Bariha and Mahendra Badhei, who aspired for a ticket, allegedly getting wider, the conch party is reportedly struggling to tackle the situation. 

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday made a veiled attack on Naveen Patnaik, saying the BJD-led government is appropriating money meant for farmers. He said this while addressing a meeting at Mandosil under Paikamal block in Bargarh district.   

Abduction of a BJP leader has become talk of the poll-bound Padampur with the saffron party accusing BJD’s hand behind it.

In what could be called a revenge raid to the Income Tax raids at three places in Padampur on Monday morning, the State government has reportedly unleashed GST officials to conduct raids on some business establishments in the towns of Paikmal and Jharbandha including Padampur.

I am throwing an open challenge before the Odisha government. If it provides land for the new rail line tomorrow, we will start work the very next day, said Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national vice-president Baijayant Panda launched a broadside against the State government, enumerating several burning issues that have obstructed the development in Western Odisha.

Meanwhile, issues like farmers’ problems, district status to Padampur and acute migration problems are taking centre stage in the campaign.

Vaishnaw, the railway minister, and Tomar, the minister for agriculture and farmers' welfare, will canvass for the saffron party's nominee Pradip Purohit on Sunday.

Annual mass exodus after Nuakhai, an agrarian festival, is common in Padampur Assembly constituency.

A video, purportedly showing the presence of the teachers has surfaced, which triggered resentment among BJP leaders following which a team met Padampur's Additional Collector and Returning officer alleging violations of the Model Code of Conduct.

After the debacle in Dhamnagar, BJD has exuded confidence in senior party leaders and western Odisha leaders. For the first time, BJD has included former MLA Pradeep Majhi in its star campaigner list.

While the first seven days didn’t see any candidate turning up at the Padampur Sub-Collector’s office to file nomination papers, the last day witnessed as many as 13 candidates making a beeline to file their nomination papers.