Odisha Elections: Wife Locks Horn With BJD’s Rudra Maharathy As Independent In Pipili Assembly Seat

Bhubaneswar: In a surprise move, BJD nominee for Pipili Assembly seat Rudra Maharathy’s wife Jagruti Panda reportedly filed her nomination as an independent candidate against her husband from the same constituency.

While 32-year-old Jagruti declined to comment on the reason behind filing the nomination from the same seat, Rudra said there is no need for him to be worried over the development.

“There is no problem and no harm in filing of nomination by her,” Rudra was quoted by TOI as saying after his wife filed nomination on Monday.

While the state witnessed some couples contesting elections from different seats, this is perhaps the first instance of wife and husband crossing swords in the same constituency in Odisha.

Rudra (35), son of late leader Pradeep Maharathy and the sitting BJD MLA from Pipili, had filed his nomination on May 3. Rudra had won from the seat in the bypoll held in April 2021 following the demise of his father, who was a seven-time MLA and former minister.

Politically-sensitive Pipili assembly constituency under Puri Lok Sabha seat will go to polls on May 25.

While Monday was the last date for filing of nomination, Thursday is the deadline for withdrawal of candidature.

Political observers were of the view that a clear picture will emerge in Pipili on the date of withdrawal of nomination.