BHUBANESWAR: Congress on Monday picked Tarun Pandey (45), son of late MLA Biren Pandey, as its candidate for the byelection to Jharsuguda assembly seat on May 10. The bypoll was necessitated by the murder of BJD MLA and cabinet minister Naba Kisore Das on January 29.
Tarun, who was never associated with active politics in Jharsuguda, admitted it will be a huge challenge for him. “I am a debutant and know it will be a tough task for me as I did not hold any post nor portfolio of the party in Jharsuguda. But I am not new in politics. I have been taking part in party activities in the area. People in Jharsuguda know me as my father won the seat thrice (1980, 1985 and 1995),” Tarun said.
