Major setback for BJP in Odisha as Jay Panda loses to BJD’s Anubhav Mohanty

Sambad English Bureau Published On : May 23, 2019 at 9:31 PM Updated On : May 24, 2019 at 5:41 PM

Bhubaneswar: What came as a huge blow to BJP in Odisha, Baijayant Panda, the party’s MP candidate from Kendrapara Constituency was defeated by BJD’s star candidate Anubhav Mohanty with a huge margin.

The actor-turned-politician defeated the two-time Rajya Sabha member with 1,52,584 votes. Anubhav was leading against the BJP’s national vice-president throughout the day indicating his popularity among voters.

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The actor won the seat with a total of 6,28,939 votes (628109 EVM votes + 830 postal votes) while Panda got 4,76,355 votes (474051 EVM votes+ 2304 postal votes).

In 2014 elections, Panda had emerged victorious by securing 6,01,574 votes.

Earlier, speculations were on rife that Kendrapara will witness the toughest battle between Anubhav and Baijayant for the Lok Sabha seat. Congress had renominated lawyer-turned-politician Dharanidhar Nayak, who secured total 113841 votes.

Panda, who was elected to Lok Sabha twice from Kendrapara in 2009 and 2014 on BJD ticket, contested the polls for the first time without ‘Biju babu’ tag. He had joined the saffron party in March, months after quitting BJD that had suspended him for his ‘anti-party’ activities.

Baijayant Panda vs Anubhav Mohanty BJP in Odisha Kendrapara Lok Sabha seat