Jharsungda: The bypoll to the Jharsuguda Assembly constituency gained a significance as it is the last election before the Lok Sabha polls next year. Heavyweight campaigners from major political parties including Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Congress and BJP took part in the electioneering.

The by-election was necessitated following the murder of sitting MLA and the then Health Minister of the state Naba Kishore Das on January 29 this year.

A total of nine candidates are in the fray, though the contest is mainly between the BJD, BJP and Congress. BJD has fielded Das’s daughter Deepali Das, while BJP has nominated Tankadhar Tripathy. Congress has fielded Tarun Pandey, the son of late MLA Biren Pandey.