BJD heading for victory in Kandhamal

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhubaneswar, Oct 19: The Biju Janata Dal headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is headed for victory in communally sensitive Kandhamal Lok Sabha constituency in Odisha.As counting of votes polled in the October 15 by-election in Kandhamal continued at five places in the constituency since morning hours, it appeared imminent that BJD candidate Pratyusha Rajeswari Singh is set to win the by-election that was necessitated due to untimely death of her husband Hemendra Nayaran Singh.Rudra Madhab Ray of the Bharatiya Janata Party is in the second position while Abhimanyu Behera of the Congress is trailing behind him in the third place.Congress seems to have proved to be unsuccessful in keeping its vote base intact.The BJP seems to have strengthened its base among the tribals in view of the joining of tribal leader Lambodar Kanhar in the party before the by-poll.