Odisha: Union Min Smriti Irani to hit campaign trail for Bijepur by-poll next week

Bhubaneswar: Union Textile and Information & Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani will hit the campaign trail for Bijepur by-poll in Odisha on February 20, party sources said.

The Union Minister is scheduled to visit Bijepur, which is witnessing high-voltage campaign by all three major political parties – BJD, BJP and Congress, to address a public meeting along with top BJP leaders from the State, the source added.

Besides, Irani will participate in road shows at few places in the western Odisha town.

Earlier Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Minister of State for Finance Santosh Gangwar visited Bijepur to campaign for party nominee Ashok Panigrahi.

Gangwar had addressed addressed public meetings at Bandhpali, Jalpali, Sadhupali and Barpali besides participating in road shows.

The Saffron party had also declared that National BJP President Amit Shah, Union Minister Radha Mohan Singh are among the senior leaders to campaign for the party in the bypoll to the Bijepur assembly constituency.

On the hand, more than two dozen BJD ministers and MLAs are camping in Bijepur to ensure victory for its nominee – Rita Sahu.

The bypoll to Bijepur constituency scheduled to be held on February 24.