Campaigning ends for by-poll in Bijepur Assembly seat

The campaigning for Saturday's by-election in Odisha's Bijepur Assembly seat ended today.
Leaders of three major parties - the BJD, the BJP and the Congress - held press conferences to accuse others of various charges on the last day of campaigning.
Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who spearheaded the campaign for BJP candidate Ashok Panigrahi, alleged that a private secretary of the chief minister's and senior officials have sent as many as 100 state government officials to Bijepur on special leave to help the BJD in the by-poll.
The BJP leader also demanded removal of state Labour minister Sushant Singh from the constituency apprehending that Singh may create disturbance during the polls.

The BJP leaders visited the state chief electoral officer (CEO) and demanded videography of Singh's movement to ensure free and fair elections in Bijepur.
In another press conference, BJD vice-president Prasanna Acharya charged Pradhan, the petroleum minister, with violating the model code of conduct.

"The petroleum minister violated the code of conduct by forcibly shut a petrol pump, owned by a BJD worker, in Bijepur," Acharya alleged.
Senior Congress leader Srikant Jena claimed in a press meet that the BJD and the BJP were using black money in the by-poll.
"However, people have decided to vote for the Congress candidate Pranaya Sahu," Jena said.

With end of campaigning, the polling parties left for their respective booths for the by-polls on February 24, said Bargarh Collector Yamini Sarangi.
Of the total 281 booths in the constituency, 155 have been identified as critical.
Adequate security arrangements been made for free and fair election, she said.
The by-poll is necessitated due to death of Congress MLA Subal Sahu. His wife Rita Sahu is now the candidate for the ruling BJD.
Fourteen candidates are in the fray for the by-poll and the votes would be counted on February 28.