Cuttack: Candidates of various political hues have intensified their campaigning in Barabati-Cuttack Assembly constituency, which would go for polls April 23.
Altogether 10 candidates are in the fray from the segment and according to political observers, the contest among aspirants representing the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would be tough.
The BJD has re-nominated Debashish Samantaray from the seat. Samantaray had won the Assembly seat twice consecutively in 2009 and 2014.
Cuttack city Congress president Muhammad Moquim who is trying his luck from the constituency again had lost to Samantaray in 2014 Assembly polls.
The BJP has fielded former minister Sameer Dey who had thrice emerged winner from the erstwhile Cuttack Assembly constituency.
The constituency has 2, 27, 777 voters including 22, 000 Yadavs (milkman community) and 36, 000 Muslims.
Political observers feel that consolidation of Yadav and Muslim votes may tilt the balance in favour of a few candidates. However, others have opined that caste and religion might not play a role in Barabati-Cuttack seat.
Yadav leader Ashirvad Behera had campaigned for the BJD candidate in 2014 elections. This time too, Behera has extended his support to the BJD nominee.
Behera was a BJD ticket aspirant from the segment. But, the party chose to field Samantaray. “The BJD leadership has managed to secure Behera’s support,” said a political observer.
However, Hemant Behera, a member from the Yadav community, is contesting as an independent nominee from the segment. Speculation is rife that Hemant may draw a sizeable chunk of Yadav votes.
“We will vote for a leader who loves Cuttack. Caste has no role to play in this election. People of the city would choose a leader who has a vision and capacity to resolve the basic civic issues. Money and muscle power would not help a candidate,” said Kartikeswar Behera, a voter from Yadav community.
In 2014 Assembly elections, Muhammad Moquim (Cong) polled 16, 000 votes in booths dominated by Muslim votes. Samantaray (BJD) had secured 12,000 votes from these booths.
This time, the Aam Admi Party (AAP) has fielded Sheikh Muntakim Bux from Barabati-Cuttack. Moreover, many leaders from Muslim community including Muhammad Sakil, Sheikh Kamaruddin, Ekamra Hussain, Muhhamad Ayub, Ramjan Khan and Sheikh Sharif have extended their support to the BJD nominee.
“There is no clear indication to suggest that votes from Muslim community would go to either Congress or BJD,” said an observer.
Moquim (Cong), however, made it clear that people of Cuttack would not cast votes by looking at somebody’s religion or caste.
“The city has several civic issues. People have been suffering from severe water-logging in rainy season. Mosquito menace is yet to be solved. Traffic snarls are troubling commuters. We are fighting the polls on the issue of development,” said Moquim, adding the BJD and BJP have done nothing to address the civic issues.
AAP candidate Muntakim Bux claimed that people of all communities would vote for him.
Muhammad Sahid, a Muslim voter, rejected the perception that members of his community would vote on the basis of caste or religion. “Religion has no role in Cuttack politics. People would vote for someone who has actually done something for the city. Civic issues would play a major role in 2019 polls,” Sahid said.
BJD candidate Samantaray claimed voters from all communities are with his party. “The Naveen Patnaik government has implemented many developmental projects in Cuttack,” he added.
BJP nominee Sameer Dey also claimed that religion and caste have no role in Cuttack politics. “It’s a city of brotherhood and communal harmony. The BJP is determined to solve the civic issues of the millennium city,” he said.