Bhubaneswar, Sep 28 (IANS): Odisha's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Saturday announced former MLA Rita Sahu as the party's candidate for the October 21 bypolls to the Bijepur Assembly constituency in Bargarh district.

"I am indebted to the people of Bijepur for their blessings. Bijepur will continue to be a focus constituency for me," said BJD President and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Sahu, the wife of late Congress MLA Subal Sahu, was elected as the Bijepur MLA on a BJD ticket in February 2018 following the death of her husband in August 2017.

She had defeated Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Ashok Panigrahi.

The Bijepur bypolls were necessitated after Patnaik vacated the Assembly constituency.

In the 2019 elections, Patnaik successfully contested for Chief Minister from both Hinjili and Bijepur.

The Chief Minister retained the Hinjili seat from where he has been winning since 2000 and vacated Bijepur.

The Congress has announced to field Dilip Kumar Panda as the party's candidate for the seat while the BJP is yet to announce its contender.

The last date for filing nomination papers is September 30, while scrutiny of nomination papers will be held on October 1. The counting of votes will take place on October 24.