Accompanied by senior BJP leaders, party candidate Ashok Panigrahi today filed his nomination papers for the February 24 Bijepur Assembly by-poll.
Panigrahi filed his papers at the sub-collector office in Padampur. The sub-collector is also the returning officer for the by-poll.
BJP state president Basant Panda, party's Odisha in-charge Arun Singh, BJP legislature party leader KV Singh Deo and Padampur MLA Pradip Purohit were among others present when Panigrahi filed his nomination papers.
Panigrahi had won assembly election on a BJD ticket in 2000 general elections and joined the saffron party in October last year. Panigrahi's joining the BJP was opposed by then BJP President Narayan Sahu, who left the party and joined BJD.
Meanwhile, BJD president Naveen Patnaik has announced to field Rita Sahu, wife of former Congress MLA late Subal Sahu, as its candidate for the upcoming bye-poll. She will file her nomination papers on February 5, BJD announced.
Congress is yet to announce its candidate for the by-poll.
The Bijepur Assembly seat fell vacant following death of three-time Congress MLA Subal Sahu in August last year.
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