A BJP delegation led by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan met the Election Commission of India (ECI) in New Delhi on Tuesday and requested the ECI to ensure a free and fair by-election in the Bijepur Assembly constituency in Bargarh district scheduled on February 24.
The delegation which also consisted of Bhupendra Yadav and party national spokesperson Sambit Patra alleged that the ruling BJD is misusing the official machinery in Bijepur.
Speaking to mediapersons, Patra alleged that the offices of the Bargarh district Collector and SP have been turned into BJD offices. The SP and the SDPO instead of controlling the law and order situation are promoting goondaraj. Besides, funds meant for developmental purposes are being diverted by the BDOs to be used for elections. All this is being supervised by an officer of the CMO’s office, he further alleged.
Meanwhile on the day, the Election Commission issued notification for the Bijepur bypoll. With the issuance of the notification, filing of nominations began from Tuesday and will continue till February 6.
While scrutiny of nomination papers will be done on February 7, candidates can withdraw their nominations by February 9.
The BJP on late Monday evening announced former MlA Ashok Panigrahi as its candidate for the by-poll. Panigrahi would file his nomination papers on February 2.
Speaking to reporters, Panigrahi, who recently joined the BJP being deprived of a ticket by his erstwhile party, the BJD, claimed that the BJP would emerge victorious in the by-poll. He said the BJD candidate Rita Sahu is a novice in politics. Besides, the Congress has ceased to be a force to reckon with.
The Congress is yet to name its party candidate for the by-poll. Its six-member committee to select a candidate visited the constituency on Tuesday and held discussions with local party workers. They said the party high command would announce the name of the party candidate on February 1.
Former Chief Minister Hemananda Biswal is heading the committee while Jagannath Patnaik is its convenor. Senior leaders Sarat Pattanayak, Naba Das, Bhakta Charan Das and Bargarh DCC president Anantasana Padhi are the other members of the panel.
