The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday named Sanat Gadtia as the party’s candidate from Bijepur Assembly constituency. Gadtia will now take on BJD chief Naveen Patnaik who is also contesting from Hinjili Assembly seat.
Announcement of the candidate for Bijepur seat under Bargarh Lok Sabha constituency, which will go to the polls in the second phase elections in Odisha, was delayed by the BJP as it wanted to field a strong candidate who can give a tough fight to the BJD president.
Gadtia had quit the BJD and joined BJP last year after Rita Sahu (Bijepur MLA) joined the BJD ahead of the bypoll in the constituency following the death of her husband and then sitting legislator of the constituency Subal Sahu. Sahu had been a three-time MLA from the seat on Congress ticket.