Bijepur Bypoll to be held on Feb 24; Counting on Feb 28

ONI Bureau: Putting all rumours and speculations into rest, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has finally announced the bypoll dates for Bijepur Assembly segment in Bargarh district in Odisha.

Polling will be held on February 24, 2018, while counting and declaration of results will be done on February 28. A gazette notification on this regard will be published on January 30.

Last date of filing nomination would be February 6, 2017. Scrutiny will be done on February 7, while last date for withdrawal of nomination would be February 9. The Model Code of Conduct comes into force with immediate effect.

The seat fell vacant following the demise of three-time Congress MLA Subal Sahu on August 22, 2017. His wife Rita Sahu later joined the BJD and became its official candidate. The BJP and Congress have not yet announced names of their candidates. While BJD desperately wants to win this seat, BJP is also leaving no stones unturned to change the political equation in Bijepur.