Congress calls for Pipili bypoll postponement as state of affairs turns grim

By Express News Service
BHUBANESWAR: As the Covid-19 state of affairs within the State continued to be grim, the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) on Tuesday demanded that by-election to the Pipili Assembly constituency must be postponed until the pandemic is introduced beneath management.

Since well being consultants have predicted that Covid-19 second wave will peak across the second week of May in Odisha, conducting by-poll throughout this era might be like enjoying with the lives of individuals, working president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Pradeep Majhi informed mediapersons right here.

A delegation of Congress leaders led by Majhi and comprising former minister Bijaylaxmi Sahu submitted a memorandum to Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) SK Lohani later.

“When the Covid situation in Odisha continues to be grim with 10 deaths reported during the last 24 hours, why is the Election Commission determined to conduct the bypoll,” Majhi requested and demanded that the by-poll be postponed until the pandemic is introduced beneath management.

He stated that it isn’t potential to marketing campaign within the constituency as folks of Pipili and Delang blocks aren’t permitting entry of any political events of their areas.

“In such a situation, how can the bypoll be held,” he requested. Majhi requested the ruling BJD and the BJP additionally to demand postponement of the bypoll until the state of affairs improved.

BJD vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra stated that because the Election Commission, a statutory physique, has determined to conduct the election, the State authorities and the BJD don’t have anything to say on this regard.

He stated that as per the directive of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the BJD won’t marketing campaign in Pipili.

Instead, 5 employees together with the social gathering candidate Rudra Pratap Maharathy have been allowed to conduct a door-to-door marketing campaign, he stated.