Rajendra Das files nomination as BJD rebel candidate for Dhamnagar by-poll
Bureau,Odishabarta
Bhubaneswar: Revolting against the party, former BJD MLA Rajendra Kumar Das on Friday filed his nomination as an Independent candidate for the byelection to Dhamnagar (SC) Assembly constituency in Bhadrak district.
After being denied BJD ticket for the by-poll, Rajendra Das, along with his supporters, submitted his nomination papers before the Returning Officer. The BJD official candidate Abanti Das also filed her nomination for the by-poll on the last day of nomination on Friday.
Notably, BJP nominee Suryabanshi Suraj, son of MLA late Bishnu Charan Sethi, and Congress’ Baba Harekrushna Sethi, have already fielded their nomination papers for the election scheduled for November 3. The seat fell vacant following the demise of sitting BJP MLA Bishnu Sethi on September 19.
Former MLA Rajendra Das claimed that he has the support of the people of Dhamnagar and hoped to win the byelection. “I lost the 2019 election narrowly (to BJP’s Bishnu Charan Sethi) as a group conspired against me. I will fight the byelection with the blessings of the people,
especially elders, to serve Dhamnagar,” Rajendra Das said.
Rajendra Das, who had won the Dhamanagar Assembly seat on BJD ticket in 2009, was denied party ticket in 2014 polls. In 2019, he fought for the seat from BJD, but lost to Bishnu Sethi of BJP by a margin of 4,625 votes.
The BJD MLA and party observer for Bhadrak district, Pranab Balabantray, said the filing of nomination by Rajendra Kumar Das would have no impact on election as people are with the BJD and Naveen Patnaik.
“BJD never faced defeat in any election, particularly in Assembly by-polls. We will win by a greater margin than the recently concluded panchayat elections,” claimed BJD leader Prafulla Samal.
As October 17 is the last date for withdrawal of candidature, the real fight for the by-poll will be known after the deadline.
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