Sambalpur: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced May 10 as the date for the by-election to the Jharsuguda Assembly segment, Wednesday. The date when the announcement was made coincides with that of the assassination of former state health minister Naba Das who was representing the Jharsuguda Assembly segment in the state Assembly. Das was murdered January 29 and his death has just completed two months since the ECI announced the date of by-election to the constituency. According to data available from the 2019 elections, the Jharsuguda Assembly segment has 20,23,225 voters.
In this election, BJD candidate Naba Das won by receiving 98,620 votes, BJP’s Dinesh Jain got 52,921 votes and Congress candidate Mahendra Nayak received only 18,823 votes. While the ruling BJD is banking on the family members of the slain minister to win the poll, saffron leader Tankadhar Tripathy is the front-runner for the ticket from BJP. The date of announcement of the by-poll has sent chatters abuzz in the area and warmed up politics in Jharsuguda Assembly segment. The filing of nominations for the election will begin April 20, withdrawal of nominations will be allowed from April 23 and the polls will be held May 10. The counting of votes and declaration of the winner are slated for the same day, May 13.
The fight to wrest the seat will be between the three principal political parties – the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the grand old party Congress. It is said that BJD is certain to give the ticket to the slain leader’s daughter Deepali Das or his son Vishal Das. On the other hand, BJP’s state secretary Tankadhar Tripathy is the front runner for the ticket. Two other BJP leaders Dinesh Jain and Trinath Goel also aspire for the ticket. Trinath is a new entrant in BJP from BJD. Mahendra Nayak is the frontrunner for the Congress ticket. Dinesh Jain was defeated by Naba Das in the last election. Few other leaders could match the popularity, clout, and organisation that late Naba Das had in Jharsuguda. Speculations are rife that those leaders who are in the ruling party because of the fear of Naba Das might now leave the party and support the candidates of other parties.
Questions are doing the rounds that if the BJD fields any of the family members of Naba Das then how they will be accepted by the voters of Jharsuguda. This will be clear after the announcement of the results of the elections. On the other hand, saffron ticket aspirant Tankadhar Tripathy has started attending various programmes in the constituency and canvassing for himself. But, a separate faction in the BJP is learned to oppose him. The faction members have also lodged complaints against Tripathy before the state leaders. However, Tripathy is likely to get the ticket as he is a loyalist of a Union minister. Naba
Das’s daughter Deepali said that the date when her father died is the day of sorrow for the whole family. Her father died on the same date when the ECI announced the date for the poll. Her father’s contribution to Jharsuguda was immense and he was always with the residents of Jharsuguda. She will work with the person who will be announced as the party candidate by the BJD party supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. She said that they are with the people and will work for them. One who will get the party ticket is certain to win the election. “The love of Jharsuguda residents and the blessings of the Chief Minister is with my family,” she added.
BJP’s state secretary Tankadhar Tripathy said that BJP is a democratic party. The candidate selection is done by the party’s Parliamentary board and there is no family-based politics in BJP. All will support the candidate who will be given the ticket by the party. “Our party will not fight the elections to fulfill someone else’s dream. Our party will fight the elections to fulfill the dreams and the aspirations of the residents of Jharsuguda and will certainly win,” he said.