Priyanka Gandhi leads in Wayanad, BJP ahead in Palakkad Assembly seat
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who made her poll debut from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, was leading in the early trends on Saturday.
High-flying MP Baijayant Panda who had resigned from the BJD a couple of weeks ago, is likely to time his resignation from the Lok Sabha in such a manner that there is no by-poll to the Kendrapara seat.
Reliable sources said the clear ‘ one year gap’ before general elections is the point in consideration and if Panda resigns after 6 June there is no scope for a by-poll.
On Wednesday, Panda held a prayer meeting as part of the rituals following his father Bansidhar Panda’s death at a hotel in New Delhi.
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Several political heavyweights including Central ministers attended it. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, P Chidambaram were among the prominent Congress leaders while the BJP was in full strength including L K Advani, Murali Manohar Joshi and a host of cabinet ministers.
It is learnt that Panda will tender his resignation to the Lok Sabha Speaker any day now. Both the BJP and BJD are equally keen that by-polls to the politically important Kendrapara Lok Sabha seat is avoided.
Speculations are that Panda may soon join the BJP, though a party insider said there was not much enthusiasm or anxiety in BJP circles over such a move.
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