Bhubaneswar: Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday campaigned for the BJP candidate, Ashok Panigrahi, in the Bijepur bypoll run-up.

Pradhan visited the area after BJD president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday had exuded confidence that his party would win the Bijepur bypoll. Voting in the constituency is scheduled to be held on February 24.

Naveen said that his government had launched a number of development works and several welfare schemes for the people of Bijepur and hence would win the bypoll with a big margin.

Both the BJD and the BJP are taking the bypoll seriously because the outcome is likely to have an impact on their preparations for 2019 general elections.

Addressing the people at various places in the Bijepur Assembly constituency, Pradhan stressed on how the area lacked development despite the Naveen Patnaik government being in power for nearly 18 years.

"There are no doctors in Bijepur. There are a large number of vacancies of teachers. Also, there is no 24-hour supply of power to the area. The people will give a reply," said Pradhan.

The Congress continued to lay stress on its door-to-door campaign. For its candidate Pranay Sahu, senior leaders, including Srikant Jena and former MP Pradeep Majhi, campaigned. "People are aware of the secret understanding between the BJD and the BJP. They have seen how Naveen met Modi in New Delhi. There has been no development in the area for the past 18 years. People have been cheated. Disgusted with these two parties, the people will certainly vote for the Congress candidate," said former minister Srikant Jena.