The ruling Biju Janata Dal on Tuesday declared late Hemendra Chandra Singh’s widow, Pratyusha Rajeswari Singh, as its candidate for the by-election in Kandhamal Lok Sabha constituency of Odisha, which fell vacant following the death of her husband recently.
Her name was announced at the residence of the Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik after a meeting of party leaders. Ms. Singh was also present.
Mr. Patnaik announced Ms. Singh’s name as his party’s nominee for the by-election saying that she will continue the good work of her late husband in Kandhamal.
Ms. Singh, who hailed from a royal family in Nepal, was married to Hemendra Chandra Singh, a scion of the erstwhile royal family of Nayagarh in Odisha.
The Congress is still in the process of selecting its nominee.