Banki: Election for the Banki Assembly segment in Cuttack district has turned out to be a prestige battle for the three mainstream political parties – BJD, BJP and Congress – as the announcement of dates for the 2024 election draws near, a report stated. Areas under Banki NAC, Banki block, Dampara block and eight panchayats of Barang comprise the Banki Assembly constituency. The upcoming election has become all the more important for the three mainstream parties due to a host of reasons. The ruling BJD has won on three successive occasions from the constituency. Party candidate Pravata Tripathy won the seat in 2009 and 2014, while his son Devi Ranjan Tripathy won (on BJD ticket) in 2019. Pravata failed to get the ticket in 2019 after his name cropped up in the Chit fund scam.
However, the ruling BJD, after denying Pravata a ticket, had fielded his son Devi Ranjan from the constituency in the 2019 elections. On the other hand, Congress candidate Debashis Patnaik won once from this seat in 2004, and is desperately eyeing for a comeback. The BJP is yet to open its account and earnestly trying to win this seat, while the BJD is trying to continue its winning streak. Although no major developmental project has been implemented in the constituency in the last five years, Devi Ranjan has managed to strengthen his political career. He has been appointed as the state president of Biju Chhatra Janata Dal, the student wing of the ruling party. The party leaders have also appointed him as observer from time to time for various districts for which Devi Ranjan is hopeful of retaining the party ticket in the 2024 elections.
Although speculations are rife that Pravata is lobbying hard to get the party ticket this time, the former MLA himself dismissed those and threw his hat behind his son Devi Ranjan’s candidature. He said he will abide by the party decision. Former Congress MLA Debashis Patnaik do not want to repeat the mistake he committed by shifting his base from Banki Assembly segment and filing nomination from Begunia Assembly segment in the 2014 election. He bore the brunt of his mistake as he was trounced in the 2019 election. He came second by managing to get pocket votes of his party. He has been with people on various issues during the last five years for which he is hopeful of getting the party ticket and secure a win from the constituency.
Meanwhile, the BJP has strengthened its position in the constituency than what it was earlier. Party candidates had received less than 10,000 votes in 2009 and 2014 elections, but Subhranshu Mohan Padhi received 32,000 votes in the 2019 election and took all by surprise. He has strengthened the organisational network in the constituency in the last five years by highlighting the various programme and schemes of the Union government. He has also remained in touch with people through various meetings attended by Union ministers. He has created a favourable atmosphere for the saffron party in the constituency. BJP’s Zilla Parishad member Tusharkanti Chakraborty from Barang is also another ticket aspirant. Given the background, the 2024 election has become a prestige issue for all three mainstream parties.