Odisha Bypoll: Widow Vs Orphaned Son On Cards In Pipili?

Bhubaneswar: Will Congress field Ajit Mangaraj’s wife Bandana as a party nominee for the by-election to Pipili Assembly constituency?

The April 17 bypoll, which was deferred after Mangaraj succumbed to COVID-19 on April 14, will now be held on May 13. The Election Commission issued the formal notification on Monday.

The Congress has to pick a new candidate and there has been a growing demand to field Bandana.

According to party sources, former president Rahul Gandhi, Odisha in charge A Chellakumar and secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) A Rudra Raju have spoken to Bandana.

Senior Congress legislator Suresh Kumar Routray had earlier said that Congress leaders in Pipili want the widow of Mangaraj to be fielded in the bypoll. Congress presidents of Pipili and Delang blocks are also supporting her candidature.

Her nomination can heighten the poll pitch with BJD leader and former minister Pradeep Maharathy’s son Rudra Pratap already in the fray. The bypoll was necessitated following the death of Maharathy in October last year.

The BJP has nominated Ashrit Pattanayak from the seat.

According to the fresh notification, the last date for filing of nomination papers for the Congress candidate is April 26. While the nominations will be scrutinised on April 27, the last date for withdrawal of candidatures is April 29.

The bypoll process has to be completed by April 18, it added.