By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR/PIPILI: The Pipili by-election in Odisha’s Puri district, which was scheduled to be held on April 17, has been postponed following the death of Ajit Mangaraj, the Congress candidate for the by-election at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar due to Covid-19 today afternoon, fresh dates for the by-poll to Pipili Assembly seat will be notified later.
Sushil Lohani, the State Chief Electoral Officer , said a report has been sought from the Puri district returning officer and further action will be taken thereafter. The report will be then sent to the Election Commission of India (ECI). Lohani further informed a fresh notification for the by-poll will be issued soon. The 52-year old Congress leader was admitted to Apollo Hospital last week. Mangaraj was admitted to the Apollo Hospital on 7 April after being diagnosed with severe COVID-19 pneumonia.
“I am saddened to hear about death of Congress candidate Ajit Magaraj, who was contesting the bypoll to Pipili Assembly Constituency. My condolence is with bereaved family of the leader,” said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
“Ajit Mangaraj was a close aide to me and a man of positivity by nature. It was unbelievable that he is not with us,” said Union Petroleum & Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who visited the hospital soon after the news broke in media.
As many as 10 candidates were in the by-poll battle for the Pipili Assembly constituency. Rudra Pratap Maharathy of BJD and Ashrit Pattnayak of BJP had also filed their nominations.
Mangaraj had unsuccessfully contested on a Congress ticket from Pipili Assembly seat during 2019 general election. On October 4 last year, Pipili MLA Pradeep Maharathy had passed away necessitating a bye-poll to the Assembly Segment.
