Even though the date for a by-election to the Pipili Assembly constituency following the death of incumbent BJD MLA Pradeep Maharathy a couple of months ago is yet to announced, speculations are rife as to whether the deceased leader’s wife Pratibha Maharathy or son Rudra Maharathy would be chosen by BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik as the party candidate in the by-poll.
The speculations became more intense on Thursday when BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik appointed senior party leader and Aul MLA Pratap Keshari Deb as the party’s observer for the Pipili by-election. Rudra Maharathy virtually told media that he is an aspirant for the BJD ticket to contest the by-poll. “I have political and electoral experience as I was involved in campaigning in the last two elections for my father,” he said.
At the same time, he added that it is up to the party high command whether to choose him of his mother Pratibha Maharathy, who, he said also has political experience. Pratibha Maharathy, when asked, declined to make any comment and said Naveen Patnaik is the ultimate authority in selection of the candidate.
Notably, there are also BJD ticket aspirants outside Maharathy family. One among them is Sandhyabati Pradhan of constituency, who is now Chairperson of Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
