Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) candidate for the bypoll to the Jharsuguda assembly constituency Dipali Das, today collected the party ticket (the official authorisation to file nomination as the party’s nominee) from BJD president Naveen Patnaik at the latter’s residence Naveen Niwas.
“Our party-Biju Janata Dal’s President Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today officially handed me the ‘party ticket’. I took his blessings and promised him that I will make him feel proud. I am hopeful of a very good result,” said a beaming Das speaking to reporters outside Naveen Niwas after collecting the party ticket.
Flanked by BJD Vice President Debi Prasad Mishra and her brother Vishal, Das responding to queries from reporters, said that though she cannot tell the exact number of votes that she is going to poll but felt confident of a good result based on the good work done by the Chief Minister for the common people.
Taking a swipe at her opponents, Das, a newbie politician remarked,”Those who are saying that there has been no development, I would prefer to call them blind. Today Odisha’s development story is known to one and all in the country. Public knows what our CM has done or not done”.
She said that Jharsuguda district was created during the time of Biju Patnaik.
She said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Jharsuguda got its airport and work is underway to provide drinking water to all households by the end of 2023.
The most important of all women empowerment is the contribution of the Chief Minister, she added.
Meanwhile, Congress candidate for the Jharsuguda bypoll, Tarun Pandey today filed his nomination at the Sub Collector’s office in Jharsuguda.
Pandey came in a grand rally by his party men and well-wishers to the Sub Collector’s office from the Manmohan School ground to file his nomination.
PCC President Sarat Patnaik, senior leaders Suresh Routray, Santosh Singh Saluja, Adhiraj Panigrahi, Rajan Ekka among others accompanied Pandey for the filing of nomination.
The Jharsuguda Assembly seat fell vacant following the death of former Health Minister Naba Das who was shot dead by ASI Gopal Krishna Das on January 29 necessitating the bypoll.
The Jharsuguda bypoll is slated for May 10 and the counting of votes is scheduled on May 13.
BJD candidate Dipali Das is the daughter of slain Health Minister Naba Das.
