Odisha: BJD, BJP may field debutants for Jharsuguda byelection

BHUBANESWAR: Political activity in the state has intensified with the Election Commission of India announcing May 10 date for the bypoll to Jharsuguda assembly seat, left vacant after the murder of then minister Naba Das on January 29.
The ruling BJD is considering to field Naba's daughter Dipali to capitalize on the sympathy vote while the opposition BJP may give ticket to young leader Tankadhar Tripathy, a former state president of BJP Yuva Morcha.

Dipali (27), a management graduate is active in political activities for the past two years and was often seen in public with her late father. She is considered Naba's political heir even when he was alive. After her father's death, Dipali and her brother Vishal (29), also a management graduate who looks after their family business, have been attending many grassroots political programmes in Jharsuguda. On the upcoming contest, Dipali said, "It is for chief minister Naveen Patnaik to decide on the candidate. Me and my family will support whoever he fields and works for development of Jharsuguda." Vishal echoed similar views.
Tanka (41), a law graduate, who started his political career with ABVP as a student leader, has also been politically active in Jharsuguda, his native place. "I will abide by whatever decision the party's parliamentary board takes and will discharge any responsibility that comes to me," he said.
The Congress has formed a five-member panel of senior leaders who will visit Jharsuguda soon and recommend names to be finalised by the AICC leadership, Congress state president Sarat Pattanayak told TOI.
Political parties consider the bypoll crucial since it is being held barely a year before the simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly elections due in May 2024. The three parties will strive hard for the best possible result, which may set the template for next year. The opposition parties, BJP and Congress, are raising the unsolved murder mystery of Naba pointing out that the Crime Branch is yet to clarify on the motive behind the murder. Naba was elected from Jharsuguda in the last three consecutive elections, twice as Congress nominee in 2009 and 2014 and as BJD candidate in 2019. Before that BJD's Kishore Mohanty was elected from the seat in 2000 and 2004. It will be the fourth bypoll in any assembly segment under Bargarh Lok Sabha seat since the last LS election.