Kantamal: With campaigning for the second phase election in full swing, the Kantamal Assembly segment in Boudh district is all set for a triangular fight among the BJD, BJP and the Independent contestants.
The BJD has fielded Mahidhar Rana, but his problem is that Sesh Kumar Meher, disgruntled leader of the party, is contesting the poll as an Independent. It is a testing time for both the ruling party leaders.
The BJP has fielded Kanhei Charan Danga, while the Congress has nominated a new face – lawyer Prashant Sahu.
In 12 panchayats under Boudh block, the BJD and the BJP candidates are fighting neck-to-neck in terms of their respective support bases.
The Kantamal Assembly constituency comprises Baliguda and Boudh blocks.
Notably, Bhagwan Khanr was elected from this seat in 2009 securing 45,979 votes, while the Congress candidate Kanhei Charan Dang got 31,526 votes. The BJP candidate Harinarayan Pradhan was placed third with 20,448 votes.
In the 2014 election, Mahidhar Rana was elected MLA with 49,202 votes, while Harinarayan got 23,836 votes on a Congress ticket. He was earlier with the BJP. Kanhei Charan had contested as an Independent and secured 23,688 votes. The BJP candidate Sudhansu Danga’s performance was dismal.
However, this time, Sudhansu Danga is contesting poll as an Independent. It is being speculated that Danga will not be able to dent into the BJP’s votes this time.
BJD nominee Mahidhar Rana is also in a disadvantageous position since his party leader and chairperson of Boyanika, Sesh Kumar Meher is also contesting as an Independent here.
Meher, who has served in the cooperation sector, has a good organisation at the grassroots level. Besides, those who are opposing the BJD nominee are backing Meher.
Meher is backed by block chairperson Jajnaseni Pradhan, her husband Shankarshan Pradhan and former MLA Bhagwan Kahnr. Shankarshan has a sway over the BJD vote bank in ZP zones-2 and 3, while Bhawan can pull in votes for Meher in ZP-1.
On the other hand, Congress nominee Prashant Sahu has been working hard to ensure the return of party workers in the area, who left Congress to join other parties. Sahu believes that the issues of farming and the farmers will help him in the poll.
Independent candidate Sesh Kumar is banking on his old support base. The supporters of Sesh Kumar and the BJD MLA nominee Mahidhar Rana have already clashed.
Though Mahidhar faces a litmus test, he enjoys the support of many frontline leaders in the area. On the other hand, Sesh Kumar is far ahead in the campaigning.
As far as things stand now, everything points to a triangular contest here.
PNN