BHUBANESWAR: The byelection to the Pipili assembly seat in Puri district has been countermanded following the death of
Congress nominee, Ajit Mangaraj (52), of Covid-19 pneumonia at a private hospital here on Wednesday. The polling was scheduled on Saturday.
Chief electoral officer Sushil Kumar Lohani said the Election Commisison of India (ECI) will notify the new date for the bypoll. It has been countermanded as is the rule in case of the death of candidate of any recognised political party. “The
ECI will decide on the new date. The Congress will get an opportunity to field its new candidate as is the norm. The nominations of other candidates will remain intact.”
Ajit, a real estate developer-turned-politican and native of Ankoi village under the Delang police station in Puri district, was hospitalised on April 7 with severe
Covid pneumonia. Dr Jyoti Prakash Parija, assistant medical superintendent of Apollo Hospitals, said, “He passed away around 4pm. He was on non-invasive ventilation support in the ICU after his condition turned critical.”
An arts graduate from
Utkal University, soft-spoken Ajit had also unsuccessfully fought the 2019 assembly election from Pipili on a Congress ticket. After he was infected with Covid, Ajit had appealed to Congress supporters to work in unison for the party and for the development of Pipili.
Leaders across party lines visited the Apollo Hospitals to condole the death of Ajit, three days ahead of the bypoll.
Earlier on Monday, chief minister Naveen Patnaik had spoken to Ajit’s brother to enquire about his health.