Political temperature soars in Bijepur as campaigning picks pace

Bargarh: The Bijepur Assembly constituency has turned into a political cauldron with the three major political parties- BJD, BJP and Congress- leaving no stone unturned to attract voters' attention to win the bypoll which is scheduled to be held on October 21.

BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday raised the tempo of his party workers by jumping into the on-going high-octane campaign. The CM began his campaign today from Laumunda block. He is scheduled to campaign for party candidate Rita Sahu in other parts of the constituency tomorrow.

During the campaign, Naveen urged people to vote for Rita for the all-round development of the Assembly constituency.

BJP also accelerated the pace of its campaign with the party heavy weights being engaged in campaigning in different blocks of the constituency. While State BJP president Basant Panda campaigned for party candidate Sanath Gartia in Bijepur block, senior saffron leader KV Singh Deo and Pradeep Purohit urged people of Gaisilet block to vote for Gartia.

"CM Naveen has betrayed the people of Bijepur. He also played with their emotions. People here can never forget such betrayal and they will give a befitting reply to the BJD on October 21," said State BJP chief Basant Panda.

On the other hand, Congress seems to have surrendered much before the battle of the ballot as its senior leader Suresh Routray today said that it does not seem good for the Congress in the upcoming Bijepur bypoll because the party doesn't have funds like the BJD and the BJP.

"We cannot even match the amount of posters and party flags they (BJD) have put up for the campaign," said Routray.

Meanwhile, such a statement for the Congress MLA is seen as 'giving a walkover' to the BJP and the BJD in the by-election.