The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is going all out to retain the Pipili Assembly seat in Odisha and checkmate the BJP’s plans of making inroads into the state’s coastal belt by registering its first victory from the constituency.
Pipili, around 20km from Bhubaneswar, is considered the stronghold of the BJD and a seat that has never been won by the BJP.
The seat fell vacant following the death of BJD stalwart and seven-time MLA Pradeep Maharathy.
The BJD has fielded his son Rudra Pratap Maharathy as its candidate in the by-election scheduled for April 17. The Assembly segment is a part of the Puri Lok Sabha constituency.