Malkangiri: The ruling BJD and opposition BJP have started flexing their muscles to woo the Bengali voters to win the three-tier panchayat polls in Malkangiri district.
There are over 2 lakh Bengali voters in the district belonging to Matua community of West Bengal. These Bengali voters form a major chunk of population and play a decisive role in the victory of any party. As a result, both the parties have thrown their weight behind the Bengali voters and are trying to woo them as much as possible into their party fold.
The third phase elections will be held February 20 (Sunday) at Padia and Mathili blocks, fourth phase will be held Kalimela blocks February 22 (Tuesday) and at Swabhiman Anchal of Chitrakonda block February 24 (Thursday). The Bengali voters are present in large numbers at Padia, Swabhiman Anchal of Chitrakonda and at Kalimela blocks while Mathili is a tribal dominated area.
As many as 11 candidates are contesting for three zilla parishad zones comprising 20 panchayats in Mathili block while 64 candidates for the post of sarpanch, 58 for samiti member and 130 for ward member posts are also in the fray. Similarly, in Padia block bordering Chhattisgarh three candidates are contesting for one zilla parishad zone comprising eight panchayats while 20 candidates for the post of sarpanch, 22 for samiti member and 59 for ward member post are also in the fray.
The political equation is rapidly changing due to the intense tug of war between the two parties to woo the Bengali voters. Earlier, the Bengali voters were said to be with BJP but they are now said to be moving towards BJD. It will be easier for BJD to win the zilla parishad elections if the Bengali voters align with their party.
The saffron party had stamped a decisive victory in the last panchayat elections by wining in 10 out of 13 zilla parishad zones in the district. The ruling BJD had to be content with only one zilla parishad zone.
It is being claimed that the Bengali voters are turning away from BJP for which the saffron party is leaving no stone unturned to woo them into the party fold.
The BJP has engaged MLA Asim Sarkar of Haringhat Assembly segment in West Bengal as its star campaigner. Sarkar has been assigned the task to woo the Bengali voters to vote for the party candidates. Matuas are a majority community in West Bengal. Sarkar has campaigned for the party candidates in the last two days at Padia and Korukonda blocks and at Kalimela, Friday.
Many Bengali speaking people were seen attending his rallies and election meetings in large numbers. Tension prevailed when BJD leaders opposed Sarkar campaigning for the saffron candidates. Both the BJD and BJP workers came face to face over the issue.
Sarkar alleged that the BJD leaders and workers are displaying high handedness and goondaism just like the Trinamool Congress (TMC) counterparts in West Bengal. However, BJD leaders have rejected the allegations stating that Sarkar coming from West Bengal is trying to incite the people by giving wrong speeches and dividing the voters.
Sarkar campaigning for the saffron party will make no impact on the voters, BJD leaders said. BJP has rejected to such allegations.
Meanwhile, BJD state general secretary Pranab Prakash Das, former minister Chandra Sarathi Behera are camping in the district and intensifying their bid to win the Bengali voters. On the other hand, the grand old party Congress is far behind in campaigning and is hoping to win the election with its traditional pocket votes.