Annual mass exodus after Nuakhai, an agrarian festival, is common in Padampur Assembly constituency.
While BJP candidate Pradip Purohit broke down in a press conference while describing his harrowing experience when he was allegedly attacked by BJD goons, BJD MLA Sushant Singh alleged he has been issued death threats by goons supported by BJP MLA Jayanarayan Mishra.
The issue was raked up on Sunday after Odisha Commerce and Transport Minister Tukuni Sahu wrote a letter to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw urging him to sanction new railway line between Bargarh and Nuapada via Padampur.
Tribal votes hold the key for victory in the ensuing bypoll.
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.
Government sources revealed that discussions are going on to add six more districts such as Rourkela, Rajgangpur, Rairangpur, Bhubaneswar, Padampur and Titlagarh.
Major political parties very well know that the farmers hold key to the Padampur bypoll as the 90 per cent of the voters here are farmers. The farmers too are trying to cash in on the opportunity and are trying their level best to get their demands fulfilled.
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.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik promised district status to Padampur by 31 December 2023 ahead of the bypolls. The decision from the CM came after a discussion with the members of the action committee at Naveen Niwas in Bhubaneswar.
Naveen has assured to provide district tag to Padampur subdivision by 31 December 2023, informed the members of the action committee following a discussion with the CM at his residence in Bhubaneswar.
Barsha is the elder daughter of its sitting MLA Bijay Ranjan Singh Bariha, who passed away on October 3, necessitating the bypoll. Interestingly, Barsha is also the daughter-in-law of BJP leader Ramaranjan Baliarsingh.
The BJD is at crossroads over selecting the candidate for the Padmapur bypoll. While Tilotama, and Madhavi are in the race to get the ticket, the entry of Barsha and Kadambini has left the party in a confused state.
The voting in Padampur is scheduled on December 5 while vote counting will be held on December 8, 2022.
Purohit said the recently-concluded bypoll at Dhamnagar proved that it is not necessary that the ruling party will win all the by-elections as was happening in Odisha till now.
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