Bhoi has been winning the seat for the last two elections. In 2024 Assembly polls, he defeated Biju Janata Dal’s Binay Kumar Toppo by a margin of 17,189 votes.

Accusing the state’s BJP government of “shielding the governor’s son”, the opposition BJD has been demanding his arrest and a statement from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who is also in charge of the Home Department.

Padhy, a two-time MLA elected from the Ranpur assembly segment in Nayagarh district was the lone candidate for the post.