Campaigning for Patkura Assembly seat comes to an end

The high decibel campaigning for the Patkura Assembly seat in Odisha's Kendrapara district came to an end on Thursday.

The politically-important Patkura Assembly seat is witnessing one of the most intriguing political battles in the state as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's bete noire Bijoy Mohapatra of the BJP is locked in a fight with BJD nominee Sabitri Agarwal.

Mohapatra is contesting from the seat in his bid to make an entry into state Assembly after almost two decades.

Four-time MLA Mohapatra, one of the founders of the BJD, was ousted from the party by Patnaik just before the 2000 Assembly polls. Since then, he has not been able to make it to the state Assembly.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, a number of state ministers, MPs and MLAs campaigned for the BJD candidate while a number of Union Ministers and senior BJP leaders campaigned for Mohapatra.

The ruling BJD has fielded Sabitri Agarwal, wife of former Patkura MLA late Bed Prakash Agarwal, while Jayant Mohanty is contesting as Congress candidate.

"Elaborate arrangements have been made to conduct free and fair election for 2,4,4747 voters through 309 polling booths," S Verma, Kendrapara district Collector said.

"We have warned all political parties and their candidates and cadres of stringent action if they are found influencing the electorate through inducements, money, liquor or gifts," he said.

Physically-challenged and visually-impaired voters will be given preference to cast their ballot first, as the voting process will begin at 7 am and conclude at 5 pm,' added the collector.

"We have made arrangements to distribute voters slips with photographs to the electorate in the constituency to ensure maximum participation this time so as to improve the polling percentage," Verma said.

Polling in Patkura Assembly seat which will be held on July 20 was initially scheduled on April 29, but it could not be held because of the death of BJD candidate Bed Prakash Agarwal on April 20.

Then, the Election Commission fixed May 19 as the date for polls in Patkura. However, later it was further postponed following cyclone Fani that barrelled through coastal districts of Odisha on May 3.