Bhubaneswar, Nov. 20 -- Major political parties have started chalking out master strategies for the forthcoming by-election to the Padampur assembly constituency in Bargarh scheduled to be held on December 5. Ruling BJD, Opposition BJP and Congress are eying tribal votes as it holds the key for victory in the ensuing bypoll which will set the tone for the next assembly election.

As per reports, Padampur constituency has a total number of 2,57,000 voters, and out of those more than 80,000 belong to the tribal community. They constitute around 29 per cent of the total voters who will exercise their franchise to seal the fate of the candidates.

As per 2011 census, the constituency has three tribal-infested blocks. Padampur, Paikmal and Jha...