Badasahi: Electioneering came to an end Saturday in the Badasahi Assembly constituency of Mayurbhanj district. The administration has made all arrangements for peaceful conduct of the polls here.
Going by the poll scenario, the seat is going to see a tough fight between the BJD and the BJP. The Congress is lagging behind due to infighting.
The BJD and the BJP have already conducted roadshows and rallies with film stars and also door-to-door visits.
Political analysts say the main fight will be between the BJD and the BJP here. The Congress is at a disadvantage as its leadership has sidelined a section of its workers who had been organising the party here.
The people in the 45 panchayats of Badasahi and Betanoti blocks are going to vote with eight candidates in the fray.
The major contestants are BJP’s Sanatan Bijuli, BJD’s Brundaban Das, Congress’ Debjani Behera and BSP’s Sanjay Behera.
In 2014, there were 99 booths in Badasahi block. The number of booths this time has gone up to 103. Betanoti block had 129 booths, but this time the number of booths has increased to 136. Badasahi has 1,89,830 voters.
During door-to-door campaigns, the contestants made numerous promises to voters. The BJD is nurturing hopes of achieving a hat-trick this time, and is banking on KALIA scheme and Mission Shakti.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik conducted roadshows and BJD heavyweights and cine stars campaigned vigorously for their nominee.
Party workers and leaders strengthened the BJD base in the seat by holding meetings, and are pulling out all stops to ensure victory of their candidate.
BJP workers have been telling the people about the need for a double-engine government in the state. In the last panchayat elections, the BJP had performed well and had won in five Zilla Parishad zones.
BJP’s nominee Sanatan Bijuli has been winning voters with his party’s organisational skills, camaraderie and friendliness.
Both state and Central leaders have campaigned for Bijuli. It is believed that the BJP has an edge over other parties here.
The Congress candidate is on the back foot here due to the non-cooperation of a group of party workers.
Upset with the Congress, Sanjay Behera is contesting on a BSP ticket.
BJD leader Ganeswar Patra, who was elected MLA in 2014, is also unhappy as the party denied him ticket.
In the last panchayat elections, the BJD fared badly in the constituency due to infighting. The BJD lost all the five Zilla Parishad seats.
The BJD hopes to gain due to KALIA, but political analysts say it remains to be seen how the party will win those who have not received assistance under the scheme.
PNN