Bhubaneswar: The State Election Commissioner issued Tuesday the official notification for the Pipili Assembly constitution by-polls which will be held April 17. This announcement will certainly spur all the political parties into increasing the tempo of their activities.
According to the notification, officers will accept nomination of candidates from Tuesday itself. The last day for filling nominations is March 30. Scrutiny of the papers will be held March 31 while April 3 is the last date for withdrawal of nominations. The results of the Pipili by-polls will be announced, May 2.
Notably, the Assembly seat has been lying vacant since the demise of MLA Pradeep Maharathy. He died October 4, 2020.
The seven-time MLA had tested positive for COVID-19 September 14 and was admitted to the SUM Hospital in the state capital. He was on ventilator support before his death.
Maharathy joined the Janata Dal (JD) in 1985. He contested from Pipili Assembly seat on JD ticket in 1985 and 1990, and won both times. He joined the BJD in 2000. He became the Agriculture and Fisheries Minister in 2011. He was included in the state Cabinet as the Minister of Panchayati Raj and Drinking water Supply Department in 2017.
PNN
