Orissa HC closes Bijepur election irregularity case; BJD welcomes

KalingaTV News Network

Cuttack: Orissa High Court on Monday closed the case filed in connection with irregularities during 2014 assembly election of Bijepur Assembly constituency in Bargarh district and paved way for the Bijepur bye-poll.

The court ruled that the case has to be closed as the opposite party in the case, victorious Congress MLA Subal Sahu, is no more.

BJD MP Prasanna Acharya, who had lost the election in a thin margin of votes to the late MLA, had challenged in the court. However, the current political scenario has taken a U-turn as late Sahu’s family and supporters have joined BJD. The ruling party has also named Rita Sahu, wife of the deceased legislator, as the BJD candidate for the Bijepur bye-poll.

The Sahu family had also submitted the death certificate of the lone opposite party in the case and had urged the High Court to close the case.

The Election Commission, following such a verdict of the High Court, now gets a free hand to announce the Bijepur bye-election schedule.

Welcoming the High Court verdict, Acharya said, ” We welcome the honourable High Court’s decision in Bijepur case. BJD is always ready for the by-election and will definitely win it.”