Bhubaneswar, Mar 21 (IANS): Odisha's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Wednesday won the Athagarh assembly by-election, defeating the Congress by over 47,000 votes.
Former sports minister Ranendra Pratap Swain got 87,604 votes while Congress' Suresh Mohapatra trailed with 40,214. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stood a poor third (2,452 votes).
Swain had represented the same constituency for four consecutive terms, from 1990 to 2009.
He was a minister from 2000 to 2004 and held various portfolios, including science and technology, sports and youth services and housing.
The election was held March 18 after the Supreme Court cancelled the result of the 2009 election in December and ordered a fresh poll.
Swain moved the court seeking a re-poll on grounds that he was illegally barred from contesting in 2009.