Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) candidate Rita Sahu registered a thumping victory in the Bijepur Assembly by-election in Odisha by defeating her nearest rival, BJP’s Sanat Kumar Gartia by a record margin of 97,949 votes on Thursday.
According to the Election Commission, Sahu secured 1,35,949 votes while Gartia got 37,955 votes. Congress candidate Dilip Kumar Panda was a distant third with 5871 votes.
Significantly, Rita Sahu crossed CM Naveen Patnaik’s victory margin in Bijepur during recent assembly poll. Patnaik had won from Bijepur by 57, 122 votes.
As many as 1982 voters opted for the NOTA (None Of The Above) option in the by-poll.
Voting for the Bijepur bypoll was held on Oct 21 with 78.96 % voters exercising their franchise.
The Bijepur Assembly seat had fallen vacant after BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik vacated it and retained the Hinjili seat in Ganjam district.
Patnaik had won from both the constituencies in the Assembly elections, held in May this year.
Also Read: BJP, Cong Neck-And-Neck In Haryana; NDA Set To Return In Maha
Ms Kalinga