Odisha LS bypoll: BJD's Pratyusha wins by a huge margin

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Oct 19:

Pratyusha Rajeswari Singh of Odisha's ruling Biju Janata Dal has won the Kandhamal Lok Sabha seat, held earlier by her deceased husband Hemendra Chandra Singh, whose untimely death had necessitated the bypoll.

Pratyusha Rajeswari Singh ( pic-Biswaranjan Mishra)

However, she is yet to be officially declared the winner.

Ms Singh defeated her nearest rival, former Kandhamal MP and BJP candidate Rudramadhab Ray by over 2,98,000 votes.

According to latest counting figures, while Pratyusha Rajeswari got 4,77,529 votes, BJP's Rudramadhab Ray managed to get 1,78,661. Abhimanyu Behera of the Congress came a poor third with just 90,536 votes.

BJD leaders and workers celebrated Rajeswari's victory by bursting crackers and distributing sweets in Phulbani town, district headquarters town of Kandhamal.

After the win, Rajeswari said she would work for the overall development of the region and fulfil the dream of her late husband.

"It is the victory of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik," she told reporters.