bhubaneswar the byelection to the pipili assembly seat in puri district has been countermanded following the death of congress nominee ajit mangaraj 52 of covid19 pneumonia at a private hospital here on wednesday the polling was scheduled on saturdaychief electoral officer sushil kumar lohani said the election commisison of india eci will notify the new date for the bypoll it has been countermanded as is the rule in case of the death of candidate of any recognised political party the eci will decide on the new date the congress will get an opportunity to field its new candidate as is the norm the nominations of other candidates will remain intactajit a real estate developerturnedpolitican and native of ankoi village under the delang police station in puri district was hospitalised on april 7 with severe covid pneumonia dr jyoti prakash parija assistant medical superintendent of apollo hospitals said he passed away around 4pm he was on noninvasive ventilation support in the icu after his condition turned criticalan arts graduate from utkal university softspoken ajit had also unsuccessfully fought the 2019 assembly election from pipili on a congress ticket after he was infected with covid ajit had appealed to congress supporters to work in unison for the party and for the development of pipilileaders across party lines visited the apollo hospitals to condole the death of ajit three days ahead of the bypollearlier on monday chief minister naveen patnaik had spoken to ajits brother to enquire about his health