Odisha by-polls: BJD got an unassailable lead in Brajrajnagar, BJP at third place

Ruling BJD candidate Alka Mohanty continues to lead over her rivals Congress BJP and BJP as counting of votes for the Brajrajnagar assembly by-election continues on Friday afternoon. At the end of round of 16, Mohanty was leading with a margin of 54,096 votes with 75,317 votes, according to Election Commission data. His nearest rival Kishor Patel of Congress got 21,221 votes, while BJP candidate Radharani Panda came third with 18,897 votes.

The bypoll was necessitated as the BJD candidate’s husband MLA Kishor Mohanty died in December last year. This is the first time since the 2019 Lok Sabha elections that the BJP was struggling on the third spot, with the Congress coming in. in the second place. Four rounds of counting are pending, officials said. As the BJD took an unassailable lead, party workers started celebrating with firecrackers and drums.

Counting of votes is going on in Jharsuguda Engineering College from 8 am. Jharsuguda SP Rahul Jain said that a three-tier security arrangement of CRPF, State Armed Police and District Executive Force has been made at the counting center.