Bijepur Bypoll: Parties Gear Up For High Voltage Campaign

Bhubaneswar: The stage is set for a high voltage campaign by political parties for the ensuing byelection to Bijepur Assembly constituency in Odisha’s Bargarh district scheduled on February 24.

Sources in the BJD said the party supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will begin his campaign for party candidate Rita Sahu from February 19.

As per the schedule, Patnaik will campaign in Gaisilat and Barpali Blocks on February 19 and Bijepur Block on February 21.

On the other hand, the BJP has also geared up for the poll campaign.

As informed by the BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh will campaign for the party candidate Ashok Kumar Panigrahi. Besides, four Union ministers—Smriti Irani, Radha Mohan Singh, Ram Kripal Yadav and Santosh Gangwar— will campaign for their party. The party has decided to form a 20-member team for the poll campaign.

The Congress is expected to make an announcement on its poll campaign very soon, sources in the party said.

Though 14 candidates have remained in fray for the bypoll, there will be a triangular contest among the BJD, BJP and the Congress, said the political analysts.