After completion of the Dhamnagar by-poll in Bhadrak district, the State’s three major political parties, BJD, BJP and Congress, are gearing up for the by-election to the Padampur Assembly seat in Bargarh district scheduled for December 5.
After being defeated in Dhamnagar, the ruling BJD is in no mood to lose the Padampur seat. The party is in search of a suitable candidate, for which its leaders in the district are being taken into confidence. Notably, the BJD has won the Bijepur by-poll in the same Bargarh district twice during this Assembly term.
Tilottama Singh Bariha, widow of tribal BJD MLA Bijay Ranjan Singh Bariha whose death has necessitated the by-poll, hopes for the party ticket to contest the by-election.
Tilottama told reporters, “I hope the Chief Minister will shower his blessings and give me the ticket and enable me to fulfil the dreams of my husband.”
Nupada Assistant Collector Mahendra Badhei is also in the race to get the BJD ticket for the by-poll.
After winning Dhamnagar by a good margin, opposition BJP is now upbeat to wrest Padmapur from the BJD. The BJP, which had lost Padmapur by 5,734 votes in the 2019 general elections, is likely to re-nominate senior party leader Pradeep Purohit as its candidate. Purohit had won the seat in 2014 and lost to Bijaya Ranjan Singh Bariha by 5,734 votes in 2019.
The Congress has also started the exercise of its candidate selection. Local Congress leaders have selected a few names. They would submit the list to the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) for its consideration, said party leader and MLA Santosh Singh Saluja.