Baripada: Bye poll will be held for Bijatala Zilla parishad zone (32) in Mayurbhanj district December 6. The ZP sear has ben lying vacant after death of BJP supported ZP member Chhotray Murmu in January. Eleven candidates are in the fray.
The election has been a prestige issue for the BJD and BJP. Leaders of the two parties, JMM and Congress have camped in the area, lobbying for their respective candidates amid a surcharged atmosphere.
In the total 56 ZP seat, 49 seats went to the kitty of BJP while BJD had won in five.
A general election is round the corner, BJD is said to making all out efforts to win back the seat so as to boost morale of the party cadres. BJD’s political observer for the district Arun Kumar Sahu and many MLAs have camped in the area. However, political observers were unsure of Congress’ state while JMM and BJP candidates have an edge over their rivals.
The 32-ZP zone comprised five panchayats like Bijatala, Mundathakura, Banakati, Raihari and Luhashila. An electorate of 23,146 six will decide the fate of 11 candidates in the poll.
PNN