Congress candidate Pranay Sahu filed his nomination papers for the Bijepur by-poll in the district on Tuesday.
In a show of strength, accompanied by hundreds of his supporters, Sahu filed his nomination papers in the presence of many party heavyweights.
Most of the senior leaders of the PCC including president Prasad Harichandan, Hemananda Biswal, Tara Prasad Bahinipati, Jayadev Jena, Srikant Jena , Ripu Nanth Seth and others went in a rally to the office of the Sub-Collector’s office after a public meeting.
Earlier, a six-member candidate selection team had recommended two names of former Minister Ripunath Seth and Pranay Sahu to the AICC for preference and finally AICC accorded its seal of approval on Pranay Sahu’s nomination on Sunday evening. The scrutiny will be done on Wednesday while the candidates can withdraw their nomination papers by February 9. Voting for the by-election will be held on February 24 and results will be declared on February 28. Meanwhile, the BJP has decided for campaigning by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and some other central leaders of the party.
Informing this, BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma said Singh and four central leaders of the party Smriti Irani, Radha Mohan Singh, Ram Kripal Yadav and Santosh Gangwar will campaign for Ashok Panigrahi, the party’s candidate for the by-poll. A final decision over the schedule of their visit will be taken soon, he added.