[Watch] Odisha Bypoll: BJD-BJP Together & Enacting Drama In Padampur, Claims Congress Leader Sura Routray

Bhubaneswar: Accusing BJD and BJP of enacting a drama to hoodwink people in Padampur bypoll in Odisha, veteran Congress leader Suresh Routray claimed that the ruling party has fielded the daughter-in-law of a saffron leader in the Assembly segment as part of an understanding.

“The ruling BJD has given ticket to the daughter-in-law of a BJP leader. She got married barely six months ago. Her nomination shows there is a close bond between the two political parties and both are together,” the Jatni MLA told reporters.

Routray’s allegation came a day after the Naveen Patnaik-led party named Barsha Singh Bariha, wife of Smruti Sourav Baliarsingh, as its candidate for the December 5 by-election to Padampur Assembly constituency in Bargarh district.

Alleging that Barsha was nominated by the ruling BJD after discussion with BJP, he claimed that there exists deep understanding between the two parties and both are trying to mislead the voters.

“However, people of Padampur understand their game plan as they are not fools. They will teach BJD and BJP a lesson this time and Congress will emerge as the number one political party,” the senior Congress leader said.

On BJP candidate Pradip Purohit’s return without filing nomination for the bypoll on Monday, Routray said such action was nothing but a drama to mislead the farmers. Similar drama is being enacted by the ruling BJD.

Both the parties are trying to show that they espouse the cause of farmers, but in reality they are betraying the peasant community, he claimed, adding that both BJD and BJP are responsible for the plight of farmers who are denied the benefits of crop insurance due to negligence of the state government and the Centre.

If Pradip Purohit files his nomination now, the people of Padampur will give him a befitting reply on the voting day on December 5, he said.

“There will be a change in Padampur this time. People will teach BJD and BJP a lesson for their misleading actions and Congress will win,” Routray claimed.

While BJD and BJP have fielded Barsha and Pradip respectively for the by-election, Congress has announced the name of Satya Bhushan Sahu as its candidate.

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.