BHUBANESWAR: Will the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) field former minister Ranendra Pratap Swain in the by-poll for the Athagarh Assembly constituency or support Independent MLA Ramesh Rout, who was unseated following the Supreme Court judgment. The developments have put the BJD in a tight spot. The BJD leadership does not seem to be overtly happy over the Supreme Court judgment. Reacting to the judgment, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said he will discuss the matter with his party colleagues.While the Opposition leaders welcomed the Supreme Court judgment which upheld the Orissa High Court verdict stating that rejection of nomination papers of Swain in 2009 election was illegal, the BJD leaders avoided giving any reaction.The only exception was dissident and former minister Damodar Rout, who demanded an investigation into the source of funds of Ramesh Rout with the help of which he could fight the case up to the Supreme Court. The silence on the part of the BJD leaders was due to the fact that the party was all along backing Ramesh Rout ever since he was elected as an Independent from Athagarh.Sources, however, said it would be difficult on the part of the BJD leadership to deny a ticket to Swain in the by-poll as he remained in the party despite all odds. He also did not indulge in any anti-party activity.The Opposition political parties are waiting for the next move of the BJD before deciding on the issue. The electoral history of Congress in Athagarh is not encouraging and it will have to find out a suitable candidate in case Swain is made the BJD candidate. The BJP does not have a base in the constituency.Sources, however, maintained that the Congress will have to decide whether to contest the by-poll or extend support to Swain if he is denied a ticket and enters the fray as an Independent.Even though informal discussions in the matter has started, nothing concrete has emerged so far.
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