Anandapur: Political analysts have rightly said that, ‘Democracy is still an experiment in India’. The recent developments in the Anandapur Assembly constituency have revealed a new angle in power politics.
The crossover of the former BJP candidate, ex-MLA Bhagirathi Sethy, to the BJD, even after he was fielded by the saffron party in the Anandapur Assembly constituency has come as a surprise.
The BJP has announced a new candidate, Alok Sethy, for this reserved Assembly constituency (SC) in Keonjhar district. The party had earlier fielded Bhagirathi Sethy.
All speculations regarding the BJP candidate in Anandapur Assembly constituency has ended with the party picking Alok Sethy.
The Congress has fielded its former OPCC President and veteran leader Jayadev Jena in Anandapur and the BJD has fielded Bhagirathi Sethy.
Both Anandapur and Ghasipura Assembly constituencies of Keonjhar district have always been in the debate in state politics. Here politics revolves around individuals and not parties. The geographical location of both the Assembly constituencies keeps the political atmosphere hot.
However, the flip-flop of Bhagirathi Sethy, created a commotion in the state. The fights between major political parties in these two constituencies have become a personal duel between Niranjan Patnaik and Badri Narayan Patra in Ghasipura and Bhagirathi Sethy and Jayadev Jena in Anandapur.
It is being said that the Patnaik family has attempted to hit two birds with one shot, that is, checkmating the incumbent minister and BJD candidate in Ghasipura Assembly constituency, Badri Narayan Patra, and ex-Minister and Congress candidate in Anandapur, Jayadev Jena.
It is also being said that an industrialist turned politician played the lead role in the switchover of Bhagirathi Sethy from BJP to the BJD.
Recently, when Jayadev Jena was the OPPC chief, this industrialist turned politician was in the run for Rajya Sabha. However, he had to face defeat, due to the moves of Jayadev Jena.
So he has vowed not to let Jayadev Jena into the Assembly. He has also made preparations to extend financial support to Bhagirathi Sethy, in order to make him win the seat.
It is also being said that the candidature of Bhagirathi Sethy will affect the BJD candidate, Badri Narayan Patra, in neighbouring Ghasipura Assembly constituency.
The reason for this is the location of both the Assembly constituencies. Interestingly, the Baitarani River divides the Anandapur Assembly constituency into two.
On one side of the river lies Anandapur Assembly constituency and on the other there are four wards of a Notified Area Council and five village panchayats of Ghasipur Assembly constituency.
PNN