Pipili By-poll: Odisha Congress Shortlists Candidates

Bhubaneswar(Reporters Today Bureau): With the by-poll to Pipili Assembly constituency scheduled on April 17, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) chief Niranjan Patnaik today said the party has submitted a report on its candidature to AICC and the party high command will finalize the final list of the party candidate,  will be announced before March 30.

“There will be a triangular fight in Pipili this time,” said the OPCC Chief.

Talking to media persons, Patnaik said three candidates – Ajit Mangaraj, Purna Swain, and Nishikanta Mishra –  have been shortlisted and sent to AICC. The AICC will pick one of them as the candidate for the by-poll, he added.

“Congress will secure good votes in these elections. A team led by Chiranjib Biswal has prepared a report. The candidate will be finalized based on the report. Even if I don’t get the ticket, I will work for the party,” said Ajit Mangaraj, who is in the race to secure the party ticket.

In the 2019 General elections, Mangaraj contested from Pipili Assembly Constituency and secured only 9,830 votes while BJD’s strongman Late Pradeep Maharathy grabbed the seat with 88,518 votes.