14 candidates in fray for Brajrajnagar bypoll

Bhubaneswar/Jharsuguda: Fourteen candidates, including eight independents, have filed nominations for the Brajrajnagar bypoll, scheduled to be held on May 31. While candidates can withdraw nominations by May 17, the political parties have already swung into action for a best possible show.
The BJD, which has fielded Alaka Mohanty, widow of late MLA Kishore Kumar Mohanty, whose death necessitated the bypoll, has assigned duties to senior party leaders from western Odisha to ensure her victory.
Apart from chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s popularity, cadres are in an upbeat mood with the BJD having swept the recently held panchayat and urban local body elections. Besides, the sympathy factor in view of Kishore’s untimely demise will also work in their favour, the leaders feel.
The Congress, which has fielded former speaker Kishore Chandra Patel in the seat, aspires to do well given the fact that it had won the Belpahar municipality chairperson’s post in the recently held urban local body polls. Belpahar is part of Brajrajnagar assembly segment.
Brajrajnagar was considered a Congress stronghold till 2014. Its nominee Anup Sai had won from the seat in 2000, 2004 and 2009. Before that, Congress candidate Keshab Sahoo won from the seat in a by-election in 1997.
The Congress is planning to depute ministers from Chhattisgarh on the campaign trail, given the fact that Brajarajnagar shares border with the neighbouring state. The party feels leaders from the Congress-led government in Chhattisgarh may help in the campaign.
The BJP is looking forward to make up for its defeat in 2019, when Radharani Panda had lost by 11,634 votes. Radharani, who carried out door-to-door campaigning in Lakhanpur on Thursday, said people displaced by the Hirakud dam are angry with the BJD government that they were yet to get compensation. They will bless the BJP this time, she said.