Rayagada/Bargarh: Among the reversals faced by the BJD across Odisha, Rayagada and Bargarh districts stand out. While the Congress could regain its strongholds in Rayagada, BJP made major inroads into BJD’s vote bank in Bargarh.
In Raygada district, Nilamadhav Hikaka of Congress has sprung a major upset as he is almost set to win by taking a lead of more than 9,000 votes over BJD candidate and former law minister Jagannath Saraka in Bisamkatak constituency after 30 rounds of counting.
In Gunupur seat of the district, Satyajit Gomango of Congress has won by defeating BJD’s sitting MLA Raghunath Gomango with a margin of 29,885 votes. The seat witnessed contest among three members of Gomango family. While Satyajit’s mother is Raghunath’s daughter, BJP candidate Trinath Gomango is a nephew of Satyajit.
In Rayagada, Kadraka Appalla Swamy of Congress has taken a lead of over 19,000 votes over Anasuya Majhi of BJD after 21 rounds of counting.
Bargarh district, which has having five Assembly seats of Padampur, Bijepur, Bargarh, Attabira (SC) and Bhatli, BJP beat its BJD rivals in all seats except one.
In Attabira (SC) constituency, Nihar Ranjan Mahanand of BJP was declared victorious after he defeated his nearest rival of BJD Snehangini Chhuria by over 28,910 votes.
In Bhatli segment, BJP’s Orasis Acharya turned a giant killer as he defeated former minister Susant Singh of BJD with a margin of 27,892 votes.
Similarly, Ashwini Kumar Sarangi of BJP sprang a surprise in Bargarh as he defeated Debesh Acharya of BJD by a narrow margin of 4,772 votes.
In Bijepur seat, Sanat Kumar Gartia of BJP beat Rita Sahu of BJD by 10,066 and in Padampur, Barsa Singh Bariha of BJD was declared victorious after he beat Gobardhan Bhoy of BJP with a margin of 10,993 votes.
