The ruling BJD in Odisha on Monday named Alka, wife of deceased MLA Kishor Mohanty, as its candidate for the bypoll to Brajrajnagar assembly seat in Jharsuguda district. The elections had to be held after Mohanty’s death last December.
Mohanty had won the seat in 2019 by defeating Radharani Panda of BJP by a margin of 11,634 votes. A section of BJD workers were in favor of Dipali, daughter of Health Minister NK Das, but the top leadership chose Alka from the seat.
Political analysts pointed out that BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik has fielded family members of all sitting MLAs who had died. Once again the opposition BJP has fielded Panda from this seat.
The Congress is yet to name its candidate. Congress sources said the party has chosen senior leader and former speaker Kishor Patel, but no announcement has been made in this regard yet.
The by-election for the Brajrajnagar assembly constituency is to be held on May 31 from 7 am to 6 pm. Counting of votes will take place on June 3.
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