Policy & Politics

BJD Announces Candidate For Padampur Bypoll In Odisha; Will Barsha Be Able To Defend Father’s Seat?

By
OB Bureau

Bhubaneswar: After much discussion, permutation and combination, the BJD on Monday nominated Barsha Singh Bariha, daughter of late MLA Bijaya Ranjan Singh Bariha, as its candidate for Padampur by-election scheduled on December 5.

Notably, three family members of Bariha, whose death necessitated the bypoll, were vying for the party ticket. Besides Barsha, the widow of the legislator Tilottama Singh and younger daughter Kadambini were keen to contest the bypoll. Name of an OAS officer posted in Nuapada district as the probable BJD candidate was also doing the rounds.

The BJP and Congress have already named Pradip Purohit and Satya Bhusan Sahu as their respective candidates for the bye-election. The BJD, on the other hand, has been treading cautiously following the debacle in the recently concluded Dhamnagar bypoll. Members of Binjhal Samaj, who meet the party supremo at Naveeen Niwas on Sunday, also pushed for a candidate from the family.

By fielding the 29-year-old law graduate, the party hopes to cash in on the sympathy wave and also attract the women electorate, who have traditionally voted for it. However, she is a greenhorn among the candidates with BJP and Congress fielding former MLAs for the bypoll.

“I have been given a ticket on the basis of the developmental works carried out by my father. I will focus on women’s empowerment. Whatever I have learnt from my father, I will try to implement those for the benefit of people,” said Barsha, who is likely to file her nomination on November 16.

It will also be interesting to see how Padampur, which has a history of voting for no single party for two successive terms, responds to her candidature.

She is also the daughter-in-law of senior BJP leader Rama Ranjan Baliarsingh.

Also Read: Padampur Bypoll: Voting History, Sympathy Wave & Woman Card; Barsha Bariha Likely Candidate For BJD

The BJD won the seat in 2000, 2009 and 2019 while Purohit emerged victorious in 2014 on BJP ticket and Congress’ Sahu in 2004. In 2019, Purohit lost the seat by a margin of 5,734 votes while the Congress finished third.

 

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

Odisha STA Seizes Actress Rani Priyadarshini’s Scooter For Filming Reel Without Helmet

Bhubaneswar: The State Transport Authority (STA) of Odisha has seized the scooter of jatra actress…

November 25, 2024

Three Killed After Google Map Leads Their Vehicle To Unfinished Bridge

Bareilly: Blind trust on technology can be detrimental too. That’s exactly what happened to three…

November 25, 2024

Soon After Parliament’s Winter Session Begins, Rajya Sabha Adjourned Amid Opposition’s Ruckus Over Adani Issue

New Delhi: The Winter Session of Parliament commenced on Monday (Nov 25). But both houses…

November 25, 2024

Bangladeshi Girl ‘Trafficking’ Case In Odisha: Couple Arrested For Forcing Her Into Prostitution

Cuttack: After rescuing a minor Bangladeshi girl, Madhupatna Police in Odisha’s Cuttack city have arrested…

November 25, 2024

2nd Maharashtra Tigress Zeenat Released Into Core Area Of Similipal In Odisha

Baripada: Ten days after being put in a soft enclosure inside Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR)…

November 25, 2024

Odisha GDP Suspends Jonk Police Station IIC For Dereliction Of Duty

Nuapada: Inspector In-Charge (IIC) of Jonk police station in Odisha’s Nuapada district, Gurudev Karmi, has…

November 25, 2024

IPL Auction: KKR Break Bank For Venkatesh On Lucrative Day For Indian Players; Check Top Buys

Mumbai: The first day of the IPL mega player auction at Jeddah threw up several…

November 24, 2024

Odisha Govt Hands Over Case Of Attack On Dharmasala MLA To Crime Branch

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has handed over the investigation into the attack on Dhramasala MLA…

November 24, 2024