The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday became the first of the State’s three main political parties to announce its candidates for the two upcoming Assembly by-elections in the State.
The party fielded Manas Kumar Dutta for the by-poll to the Baleswar Sadar constituency and Raj Kishore Behera for the Tirtol seat in Jagatsinghpur district.
Manas Dutta is the son of deceased BJP MLA Madan Mohan Dutta, whose death has necessitated the Baleswar Sadar by-poll.Raj Kishore Behera joined the BJP recently after quitting the Congress. The BJP chose him as its Tirtol candidate apparently because the saffron party did not find a better one among its local leaders to put up an impressive electoral fight.
The duo will fight the by-elections in the respective constituencies against Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress candidates, whose names are yet to be announced.The bye-elections are scheduled on November 3.