By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday appointed Party’s Aul MLA and State Spokesperson, Pratap Keshari Deb as election Observer for Pipli bypolls in Odisha’s Puri district. The seat was lying vacant in the wake of the death of former Minister and BJD stalwart, Pradeep Maharathy.
Deb will oversee Party’s candidate selection, poll and campaign strategy in close coordination with Party leader of Puri as well as State level office bearers and will submit report to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for final approval, sources in BJD said.
Deb had earlier serve as Party’s Chief Electoral Officer for Orginisational polls and he had successfully handled it in past. In recent Balasore and Jagatsinghpur bypolls, Deb, a former Minister too had also played a key role in BJD’s twin wins.
Recently, Deb along with Party General Secretary (Organisation), Bobby Das, MLA Jajpur, too played major role in Mayurbhanj, where many joined the regional outfit recently.
Late Maharathy was born on Born on July 4, 1955 in Pipili of Puri district, started his political career as a student leader in SCS College, Puri, and was elected to the Odisha Legislative Assembly from Pipili Assembly constituency for the first time in 1985 before BJD was formed.
He joined BJD in 2000. He was elected as a legislator seven times from Pipili out of which 5 times were on Biju Janata Dal (2000-2019) ticket and once each on Janata Party (1985) and Janata Dal (1990) tickets.
He was included in the state Cabinet with many important portfolios like Agriculture,Fisheries, Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Supply, minister. Late Moharathy’s wife is eyeing for bypolls.
