Bhandaripokhari: At least 10 candidates are in the fray in Bhandaripokhari Assembly constituency in Bhadrak district. In spite of the top contenders carrying out their campaigns in a vigorous manner on a daily basis, a tough contest is expected when polling is conducted April 29, the last phase of polls in Odisha. It is difficult to make any predictions as the voters are keen on selecting a candidate with credible personality and able leadership.
This Assembly constituency in North Odisha will see a tough fight between Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik and two-time BJD legislator and minister Prafulla Samal, who is seeking re-election. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded Badrinarayan Dhal, who had unsuccessfully contested elections previously in 2009 and 2014. In 2009, he had contested on a Congress ticket while in 2014 he was a BJP nominee.
State PCC president Niranjan is new to the electorate in Bhandripokhari. Since he has no connection with the workers at the grassroots level, Niranjan is banking on the organisational strength of the party. He is heavily dependent on local leaders.
Prafulla who was elected twice from the constituency had served as a minister for one term. However, there is resentment among the voters as he has failed to deliver on his promises. There is discontentment among the BJD workers over his renomination. However, Prafulla is working tirelessly to woo the electorate. Whether he will be able to do that will only be known, May 23.
BJP candidate Dhal, on the other hand, has been raking up public issues. Dhal has led agitations in the past over such issues.
Dhal has another advantage over his adversaries. Bhadrak MP Arjun Sethi has quit the BJD and joined the BJP. Arjun holds a considerable sway in the district and that is definitely working in Dhal’s favour.
The BJP workers have been carrying out vigorous door-to-door campaign by focusing on issues related to Kantighai floods, proposed polymer park at Paimahura, lack of irrigation facilities and neglect of education and healthcare. Dhal has played the ‘son of the soil’ card, seeking support of the locals.
Bhandaripokhari was a reserved constituency from 1974 to 2004 and during this period, no one was elected twice. After the seat became a general one in 2009, BJD’s Prafulla was elected twice in succession. The BJD workers and Samal’s supporters have been highlighting the performance of the MLA in the past 10 years.
However, given the ground realities, voters have laid focus on the credibility of the leaders in the fray.