Pipili-Bypoll: BJD Announces Candidate Name

Bhubaneswar(Reporters Today Bureau): The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President Naveen Patnaik announced Rudra Pratap Maharathy, Rudra Pratap Maharathy is the son of late Pradeep Maharathy for the ensuing Pipili bypoll.

“Shri Rudra Pratap Maharthay, son of late Pradeep Maharathy, is the candidate of Biju Janata Dal for Pipili bypoll,” Patnaik announced at his residence in Bhubaneswar.

Heavyweight leaders of the BJD including Debi Mishra, Pramila Mallick, and Snehangini Chhuria were seen at the residence of Rudra Maharathy in Pipili today Soon after the announcement.

“Rudra Maharathy will win by a huge margin of votes in the bypoll. The people of Pipili will vote for the BJD,” said Pramila Mallick.

Refuting speculations of the rift in a family of late Pradeep Maharathy over ticket distribution, she said, “All hopes to get a ticket for the election. The family of late Pradeep Maharathy always stays united. Even as Rudra has been chosen by the party for the bypoll, all his family members including mother will stand as his pillar of strength in the election.”

“My mother’s blessing was and will always be with me. There is no need to convince her for support. It does not matter whether I or she gets the ticket for the bypoll as we all are one,” Rudra Maharathy told reporters.

BJD announced a day after the BJP fielded its candidate Ashrit Pattanayak for the Pipili bye-election in Odisha. The Congress is yet to announce its candidate for the bypoll.