Kandhamal Lok Sabha bypolls: Parties gear up to select candidates

With the announcement of the Kandhamal Lok Sabha constituency by-election, all three major political parties have started process to select their candidates. While ruling BJD president Naveen Patnaik met MLAs of six Assembly segments under Kandhamal Lok Sabha segment, Congress deputy in-charge of Odisha Subhankar Sarkar held discussions with local party leaders today.

Of the seven Assembly segments under Kandhamal LS seat, six are with the ruling BJD, while one seat is held by the Congress. The by-elections, scheduled for October 15, has been necessitated due to the death of the BJD MP Hemendra Chandra Singh. Though majority of the BJD MLAs have supported the idea of making Singh's widow Pratyusha Rajeshwari Singh as the candidate, Patnaik will take the final call, said state forest and environment minister Bikram Arukh.

Before Sarkar's discussions with the local leadership, 14 observers of Congress held talks with all block and district presidents in seven Assembly constituencies of Kandhamal segment. BJP's Odisha in-charge Arun Singh also held discussions with the candidates who had contested from seven Assembly constituencies yesterday. BJP state president K V Singhdeo has been asked to finalise the name of a candidate by September 19.

Meanwhile, DGP Sanjeev Marik today reviewed the law and order situation in Kandhamal ahead of the by-elections on October 15. "We will ensure a peaceful polling like the previous elections held in April," Marik told reporters.
Kandhamal Lok Sabha segment is spread over four districts - Boudh, Kandhamal, Nayagarh and Ganjam. As three of the four districts are hit by Left Wing Extremism, the police would make special arrangements for the elections, Marik said adding there was no communal tension in the district.