Gamang wins Laxmipur bypoll

BHUBANESWAR, JUNE 23: Orissa Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang, undefeated in electoral politics in his 27 years of public life, maintained the winning streak when he defeated his lone Biju Janata Dal (BJD) opponent Bibhisan Majhi by over 19,000 votes in the byelection to the Laxmipur (ST) Assembly constituency.

The byelection, conducted after Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anantaram Majhi resigned, was held on June 21.

Gamang, who was sworn-in as Chief Minister in place of J B Patnaik on February 17 last, and had never contested an Assembly election, would be entering the state legislature for the first time.