Odisha: As assembly ends, parties shift focus to Pipili bypoll

BHUBANESWAR: With end of monsoon session of assembly, political parties have now shifted their focus to the forthcoming Pipili by-election to be held on September 30.
Even as campaign for the by-election would officially start from September 20, the groundwork has already began. The bypoll was necessitated following the death of sitting BJD MLA Pradeep Maharathy. After the fresh schedule for the bypoll was announced, Rudra Pratap Maharathy (BJD), Ashrit Pattanayak (BJP) and Bishwokeshan Harichandan Mohapatra (Congress) have resumed their outreach programmes by visiting villages in the constituency.
The BJD has started holding workers’ meetings at the grass-roots level. “Though we will officially start our campaign as per the schedule decided by the Election Commission of India, we have started zilla parishad level meetings with local leaders. We have prepared our strategy for the bypoll and we will follow that,” said a senior BJD functionary, in-charge of BJD’s Pipili bypoll.
The party had earlier assigned over two dozen of MLAs including several ministers to oversee BJD’s campaign in the constituency and it could be repeated this time as well. Sources in the BJP and Congress said both the parties have also held initial discussion at the highest level to decide strategies for the bypoll. Both the parties have assigned senior leaders to campaign for their respective candidates.
Amid Covid-19 restrictions, door-to-door meeting will be the focus of all three parties though rallies will be held with small gatherings. The poll panel has barred road shows, bike or cycle rallies during the campaign period in view of Covid-19.
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