Balasore: Ticket aspirants from three major political parties – BJD, BJP and Congress – have started a poster war in Balasore assembly segment ahead of the formal notification by the Election Commission of India.
Large posters and hoardings are appearing all over the constituency stoking political passions.
According to BJD sources, the party has several ticket aspirants while there has been stability in the BJP circles. The Congress has also to deal with a number of aspirants.
The BJD had captured the seat in 2009 while BJP has emerged as its main contender. BJD nominee Jiban Pradip Das was elected twice – in 2009 and 2014.
OGP leader Arun Dey wrested the seat from BJP in 2004 held by Jiban Pradip Das.
The Congress has won the seat four times since 1952; Praja Socialist Party twice; CPI thrice, Janata Party once, Independent once, BJP once, OGP once and BJD twice.
The BJD candidates emerged victorious both in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in 2014. But the number of ticket aspirants this time will pose a problem for the ruling BJD, observed party analysts.
Although Das’s popularity is intact, the rise in the BJP’s vote share in the last panchayat polls could become a problem.
“I have been working for the people of the constituency tirelessly. BJD will surely be voted to power thanks to the charisma of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The successful implementation of BJD’s development agenda will help the BJD’s prospects despite a slight drop in the party’s votes,” he pointed out
However, there are several contenders for the party ticket this time including Gouri Rout, former civic body chairperson Alok Kumar Sahu, labour leader Arun Swain, lawyer Raghunath Lenka and party leader Swarup Das.
BJP’s district unit president Madanmohan Datt had contested the 2014 assembly polls unsuccessfully. He was defeated by a margin of 9000 votes. He is the most likely candidate for 2019 election. There are no other ticket aspirants in the BJP.
“In 2014, my party had no representation in the district. There was no sarpanch, samiti member or ward members in this constituency. After the panchayat elections in 2017, BJP made huge gains. I have been working hard since then. There has been this anti-incumbency factor, thanks to the state government’s corruption and irregularities,’’ he said.
Gopa Narayan Das (Cong) had emerged victorious from this seat in 1985. However, Congress has not tasted power for the past 30 years.
In 2014, Arun Dey was the Congress nominee who unsuccessfully fought the polls. Disgruntled Congress youth leader Manas Daspatnaik fought against Dey as an Independent, which led to Congress’ debacle.
Other Congress leaders in the race for tickets are Bikram panda, Sanjib Giri, Padmlochan Lenka, Benumadhab Panda and Arjit Ghosal.
Srikant Jena (Cong) was elected MP from Balasore in 2009, but was defeated in 2014.
The speculation is rife that Nabjyoti Patnaik, son of OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik, may throw his hat into the ring as a Lok Sabha nominee. The party has not decided on the candidate for the Assembly seat.
The constituency had 2,20,080 voters by December 2018 –1,13,909 men and 1, 06, 158 women.
Contours of Balasore Assembly segment
After redrawing assembly segments in 2009, this assembly segment has 21 wards under the municipality and 26 panchayats under sadar block. The seat comprises Kasaphala, Alumada, Sartha, Panchupada, Dhubalagadi, Bahabalpur, Chhanua, Kuradiha, Srirampur, Rasalpur, Anke, Rupsa Hasansamil, Kasipada, Raisuan, Haladipada, Odanga, Nagram, Buanla, Olandasaragan, Baincha, Sindhia, Gopinathpur, Parikhi, Chandipur, Srikona and Patrapada panchayats.
2014 Poll outcome
Main Contestants ———-Votes polled
Jiban Pradip Das (BJD) : 47,615 votes
Madanmohan Datt (BJP): 37,824 votes
Arun Dey (Cong): 28,650
Manas R Daspatnaik (Ind): 24,720