Bhubaneswar: Newly-elected Pipili MLA Rudra Pratap Maharathy took oath at the Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro’s Chamber of the Odisha Assembly on Tuesday.
Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro administered him the oath of office.
Odisha’s ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) won the bypoll to the Pipili Assembly constituency on Sunday by 20,916 votes.
While the BJD candidate Rudra Pratap Maharathy got 96,972 votes, BJP’s Ashrit Pattanayak secured the second position with 76,056 votes. Congress candidate Bishwokeshan Harichandan Mohapatra was able to get only 4,261 votes.
The by-election was necessitated following the death of sitting BJD MLA Pradeep Maharathy in October last year. The Pipili bypoll was originally slated for April 17. However, it was withdrawn by the Election Commission due to the second wave of Covid-19. It was further deferred after the death of Congress candidate Ajit Mongaraj due to Covid.
Also Read: Pipili By-poll: BJD candidate Rudrapratap Maharathy wins