By-Election To Pipili Assembly Seat In Odisha Likely By Sept-End

Puri: The by-election to Pipili Assembly constituency in the district, which has been postponed due to COVID pandemic, is likely to be held in the last week of September.

With the COVID situation improving in the country, the Election Commission of India has sought the views of national and regional parties on conducting the bypolls in different states. The parties have been asked to file their replies by August 30, sources in the office of the state’s chief electoral officer said.

The by-election to Pipili seat was scheduled on April 17 following the demise of its sitting MLA of BJD Pradip Maharathi on October 4. But it was rescheduled to May 16 as Congress candidate for the bypoll Ajit Mangaraj passed away on April 14.

The ruling BJD had fielded Rudra Pratap Maharathy, the son of Pradip Maharathi, while BJP nominated Ashrit Pattnaik and Congress announced the name of Biswokeshan Harichandan Mohapatra in the bypoll.