Uncertainty persists over Bijepur bypoll in Odisha

Cuttack: Uncertainty over Bijepur bypoll is likely to get dragged as Orissa High Court today while hearing a petition filed by former Odisha minister and senior BJD leader Prasanna Acharya following his defeat to late Congress leader Subal Sahu in 2014 general elections stated that the case will continue.

The HC move has further cast a shadow on the prospect of bypoll in the western Odisha town for which BJD has already announced its candidate.

The ruling party has named Rita (wife of Subal Sahu) as its candidate after she formally joined the party recently.

While hearing on Acharya’s election petition after the family of Subal Sahu submitted the death certificate of the deceased legislator urging the HC to put an end to the case, the petitioner’s counsel contested that the case will continue.

“Even after death of the winning candidate the case can’t be closed as per the People’s Representation Act,” said Acharya’s counsel Pitambar Acharya.

As BJD has already announced its candidate for the bypoll, Acharya’s decision to contest the case fuels speculations of his disagreement over Rita’s candidature.

Notably, the former minister had filed the petition alleging lapses in conduct of polls and counting of votes in Bijepur Assembly constituency in the 2014 election. He had lost from the seat to Sahu by a margin of only 458 votes.