Bhubaneswar, Nov 14 : BJP candidate for the Padampur assembly by-poll on Monday skipped the filing of nomination papers at the last moment in response to a call of the agitating farmers of the region.
Purohit accompanied by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, BJP MP Suresh Pujari, Leader of Opposition Jaya Narayan Mishra and several party leaders and workers went in a massive procession on Monday to file the nomination at the Sub Collector office.
He, however, returned along with the leaders and party workers while the procession was only a stone-throwing distance from the sub-collector office.
When asked Purohit said he decided not to file the nomination on Monday to pay respect to the agitating farmers who have called upon the political parties to stay away from the by-election.
The BJP leaders led by Pradhan and Purihoit along with Pujari went to the dharna place of the agitating farmers who were sitting near the sub-collector office and sat with them to discuss their issues.
However, it was not clear whether the BJP had postponed the filing of nomination or decided not to file nomination to respect the agitating farmers.
The farmers are on dharna demanding district status to Padampur, overall development of the area, crop loan assistance, irrigation problem, paddy procurement and distress sale of paddy by the farmers.
Meanwhile, the ruling BJD putting all rest to the speculation, on Monday announced the name of Barsha Singh Bariha, daughter of deceased sitting BJD MLA Bijaya Ranjan Singh Bariha whose demise necessitated the by-poll.
Barsha who is likely to file her nomination on November 16 next thanked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for reposing faith in her candidature and said she will focus and work for Women’s empowerment and complete the unfinished work of her father.
The ruling BJD has fielded Barsha, a law graduate and also daughter-in-law of senior BJP leader Rama Ranjan Baliarsingh, to encash on the sympathy factor.
The Opposition Congress had already announced the name of senior party leader and former MLA Satya Bhusan Sahu for the by-poll.
The by-poll was necessitated following the demise of BJD MLA Bijaya Ranjan Singh Bariha at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar on October 2.
As per the election schedule announced by the Election Commission of India, the filing of nominations which had started with the gazette notification on November 10 will continue till November 17 next.
The scrutiny of nomination papers will be held on November 18 and November 21 has been fixed as the last date for withdrawal of candidature.
The polling for the by-election will be held on December 5 and counting will be taken up on December 8 next.