Odisha: CM Naveen among BJD’s 40 star campaigners for Jharsuguda bypoll

Bhubaneswar: The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha today announced its list of 40 star campaigners for the Jharsuguda by-election, scheduled to be held on May 10.

BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik topped the list while BJD general secretary (organisation) Pranab Prakash Das has been placed at the second position.

Senior BJD leaders Prasanna Acharya and Debi Prasad Mishra have also been named as the star campaigners for the bypoll.

Ministers Niranjan Pujari, Ashok Chandra Panda, Pratap Keshari Deb, Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, Tukuni Sahu and Rita Sahu have found place in the list.

The list also includes former Ministers Sarada Prasad Nayak, Susanta Singh, Arun Kumar Sahoo, Pratap Jena, Snehangini Chhuria, Puspendra Singh Deo, Chandra Sarathi Behera and Dibya Sankar Mishra.

Several MLAs including Prasanta Muduli, Alaka Mohanty, Pranab Balabantray, Byomakesh Ray, Bikram Panda, Debesh Acharya, Prasanta Behera, Devi Ranjan Tripathy, Souvic Biswal and Rudra Pratap Moharathy have also been made star campaigners for the May 10 bypoll.

Ollywood actor Arindam Roy and BJD spokesperson Srimayee Sweta Snigdha Mishra also found place in the list.

Notably, the bypoll is necessitated due to the murder of sitting MLA Naba Das on January 29 this year. The BJD has fielded Das’ daughter Dipali as its candidate for the by-election.