Bhubaneswar: Odisha Labour Minister Sushant Singh has alleged that the Centre was putting pressure on the Election Commission to delay bypoll for Bijepur Assembly segment in the state, a charge rubbished by
the BJP as "absurd".
There is a feeling among people that announcement of the schedule for the bypoll is being delayed because of "pressure from the Central government", Mr Singh said, adding BJP may be doing so "due to fear of defeat".
"BJP is not announcing their candidate, the election date is also yet to be announced. There seems to be something fishy," he told reporters yesterday.
BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma termed Mr Singh's claim as "absurd" and asked the state minister to refrain from making such allegations. "Singh's statement shows BJD is apprehending defeat in Bijepur bypoll," Mr Sharma said.
He said there has been no delay in announcement of the poll schedule, as it could be held within six months.
Constitutionally, a bypoll should be held within six months of a vacancy.
While bypoll for the Bijepur Assembly was necessitated following the death of three-time Congress MLA Subal Sahu in August this year, the election schedules are yet to be announced.
Senior Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik also said it was not proper to state there is a delay in announcement of date for the bypoll, as there is the six-month period.
As elections are to take place in some other places in the country, the bypoll for Bijepur may be held along with those, Mr Patnaik said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
the BJP as "absurd".
There is a feeling among people that announcement of the schedule for the bypoll is being delayed because of "pressure from the Central government", Mr Singh said, adding BJP may be doing so "due to fear of defeat".
"BJP is not announcing their candidate, the election date is also yet to be announced. There seems to be something fishy," he told reporters yesterday.
He said there has been no delay in announcement of the poll schedule, as it could be held within six months.
Advertisement
While bypoll for the Bijepur Assembly was necessitated following the death of three-time Congress MLA Subal Sahu in August this year, the election schedules are yet to be announced.
Advertisement
As elections are to take place in some other places in the country, the bypoll for Bijepur may be held along with those, Mr Patnaik said.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
J&K Poll Dates Going Past Top Court Deadline? Election Body Chief Responds J&K To Vote In 3 Phases, First Assembly Polls Since Article 370 Was Scrapped Assembly Elections Highlights: Election Commission Announces Assembly Polls Schedule CBI Team At Kolkata Hospital For Digital Mapping Of Crime Scene Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah To Be Prosecuted In Land Scam Case Kolkata Rape-Murder: Fractures, 150 mg Semen, Other Claims Denied By Cops Ram Charan And Upasana Level Up The Twinning Game In Chic All-Black Looks Video: Man Skis Off 18,753-Foot Himalayan Cliff, Shatters World Record Court Reserves Order On Summoning Lalu Yadav, Tejashwi In Land For Job Case Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.