Bargarh: Even as the political atmosphere of the district is charged for the Bijepur by-election in Bargarh, the BJP sounded a note of confidence to win the poll this time.
“There is a heaven and hell difference between the previous by-election and the coming by-poll. The BJD rode on the wave of sympathy in previous poll, but that kind of sympathy has gone this time,” said BJP’s Odisha in-charge Arun Singh.
Singh addressed a press meet here at a hotel Wednesday flanked by Bargarh MP Suresh Pujari, senior party leader Bijay Mohapatra and Ashok Panda.
Singh pointed out that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik contested the Bijepur Assembly seat in the general election and won it.
“But after winning, he left the seat. Now people of Bijepur were disappointed,” he added. Besides, Bijepur has a host of problems – drinking water and unemployment while the BJP has a suitable condition in this seat now, he asserted. “The BJP’s win is certain this time,” he added.
The BJP’s Odisha in-charge pooh-poohed the exit of senior party leader Damodar Rout. “Rout’s exit makes no difference to the BJP. Even if the Chief Minister comes to Bijepur for election campaign, it will have no impact on the prospects of the BJP,” he said.