By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, October 1, 2017: Facing newly ascendant Bharatiya Janta Party, Odisha chief minister and Biju Janata Dal supremo, Naveen Patnaik is taking no chances for the Bijepur assembly by-election by announcing that he will personally campaign in the western Odisha town to help his party’s candidate emerged victorious.

“BJD will emerge victorious in Bijepur bypoll. I will personally campaign there.” Patnaik told reporters on Sunday on reaching here from New Delhi.

The Bijepur seat fell vacant following the demise of three-time Congress MLA Subal Sahu recently.

BJD took the lead in announcing the name of late Congress MLA Subal Sahu’s wife Rita Sahu as its candidate from Bijepur in the coming by poll. Rita joined BJD on September 23 at party headquarters here.

Congress which alleged that the family of late Congress MLA Subal Sahu was ‘influenced’ to join the BJD, is yet to come up with its candidate for the by-poll.

Meanwhile, it is speculated that the BJP will field former BJD MLA from the constituency Ashok Panigrahi who is joining the Saffron party on October 2.