Brajarajnagar: The Brajarajnagar Assembly constituency segment has always been in debate amongst various political parties, local leaders, electorates and political observers.
After the demise of Prasanna Kumar Panda, anti-incumbency wave prevailed in Brajarajnagar Assembly constituency till 2019 general elections.
The constituency has been a bastion of the Left party; testified by the fact that veteran CPI leader late Panda had been a six-time MLA from this seat.
Similarly, the Congress party fielded its MLA candidate Anup Kumar Sai who was consecutively elected for three times in between 2000 and 2014 from this Assembly constituency.
However, Anup contested as a MLA candidate of the ruling party after he joined the BJD camp in 2014 and was defeated in the general elections by Radharani Panda of the saffron party.
Worthy to note, despite BJD being in power from 2000 to 2019 in the state, Brajarajnagar Assembly constituency seat remained under the possession of opposition camp. As a result, developmental works in the Assembly constituency segment was hindered.
In such a circumstance, Naba Kishore Das of Congress could give his party a prolific leadership from Jharsuguda area and succeed in strengthening his bold presence in the state politics.
Likewise, Kishore Patel, the veteran leader of Congress from western Odisha, strengthened the grand old party during 2014 general elections but lost the election to Radharani Panda. As bad luck would have it, due to illness he could not obtain the party ticket for 2019 MLA election, although everything was in his favour beforehand.
Reportedly, many of the frontline workers of Congress party became hopeless, as the party went for pre-poll alliance with CPI by ignoring the aspirations of more than 30,000 loyal workers. The party received a terrible jolt in the general elections result.
Ahead of municipal elections, the Brajarajnagar Congress is facing terrible leadership crisis in the Assembly constituency segment. It is known, the party is not conducting any programme, meeting and political deliberation in the area.
On the other hand, as the municipal elections are getting closer day by day, both ruling BJD and saffron BJP are on toes for a tough electoral battle. Party workers of both the parties are enthused and poised to strengthen the position of their respective parties.
Political observers are of the opinion that Congress has a good electoral base in Brajarajnagar Assembly constituency segment. However, the party needs to organise its base through an able leadership. If this strategic step could be fructified, definitely the party would be in a position to pose a threat to other contenders, political observers asserted.
Senior local leaders of the party, namely Pramod Panda, Jatindra Mishra, Sadashiv Bisi, Babu Banchhor and ex-president of youth Congress Debesh Panda opined that they are loyal workers of Congress party and will work together for the party.