Hatadihi: Campaign is in full swing in Anandapur Assembly constituency. The BJD, the BJP and the Congress are trying hard to win the seat.
The battle here has become a prestige issue for the Congress as this seat had turned into a non-Congress bastion after the 2004 polls. This time the Congress has fielded Jayadev Jena as its candidate. This is the ninth time he is running for the Assembly, and has managed to win it four times.
Anandapur comprises Hatadihi, Anandapur blocks and Anandapur municipality.
Hatadihi block has importance from the political point of view. Jayadev is trying to win support in Hatadihi block as he is a resident of that block. Jayadev started his political career in 1980. He represented the constituency two times from 1980 to 1985 and from 1985 to 1990. He again won it in 1995 and in 2000 from this constituency.
He has started his calculations in Anandpur for the forthcoming elections. The 2019 election is believed to be the last election of Jena. So he is playing the emotional card to get the votes of senior citizens as well as party workers. He is also exploiting the bickering in the other two parties.
Jayadev is highlighting the corruption in the BJD, irregularities in the Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana and the poor healthcare facilities.
He has pointed out that the BJD has been ruling the state for so many years, but the people of Anandapur have not got even basic facilities. He is also stressing the injustice faced by tribals.
Political observers think that Anandapur will witness a triangular fight this time.