Naveen, Ram Kripal Step Up Poll Campaign In Bijepur

Bargarh: With campaigning for the February 24 Bijepur byelection in Odisha’s Bargarh district set to conclude on Thursday, heavyweights of BJD, BJP and Congress intensified their efforts to increase support for their party candidates on Wednesday.

Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik, who is on a two-day visit to Bargarh district to campaign for his candidate Rita Sahu, is scheduled to address two public meetings at Gaisilat and Bijepur blocks.

Party sources said Naveen, who had a night halt at the Circuit House at the district headquarters on Tuesday, will arrive at Gaisilat block in a helicopter and address a public meeting. After the meeting, he will visit several areas of Gaisilat block and campaign for his party candidate.

After completing his campaign, the Chief Minister will visit bijepur Block and preside over a party meeting. He will also visit different areas of the block for campaigning.

The BJP has also intensified its poll campaign. Party sources said Union Minister of State, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ram Kripal Yadav will arrive in Bijepur on Wednesday. He will participate in a road show at Gaisilat Block.

Among others, senior party leaders of Odisha and Ollywood stars including Mihir Das, Anu Choudhury, Aparajita Mohanty, Sritam Das and Pinki Pradhan will accompany the Union Minister during the road show to improve party candidate Ashok Panigrahi’s poll fortunes.

The Congress camp has no celebrity power. No central leader has also arrived to boost the morale of the grand old party’s rank and file. Senior state leaders of Congress including OPCC chief Prasad Harichandan and Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra are campaigning for party nominee Pranaya Sahu.