Paradip: While Paradip has been witnessing high voltage political drama since the ouster of MLA Damodar Rout from Biju Janata Dal (BJD), news of Ranjib Biswal being Congress’ pick for the 2019 elections is doing rounds in Jagatsinghpur district.
While BJD has three claimants, Congress and BJP have two each to contest for the upcoming Paradip constituent assembly.
In this scenario, Rajya Sabha MP Ranjib Biswal’s visit to the area and meeting with both BJD and Congress activists on the festive occasion of Durga Puja and Ravana Podi has triggered soaring of political fever in the region.
Like the previous polls, infighting in Congress has already gained momentum as during Biswal’s visit Arindam Sarkhel aka Bapi Sarkhel who was Congress’ legislator candidate in the 2014 election and an aspirant candidate for the upcoming elections was not seen along with Biswal.
Residents suspected that Biswal might take over Bapi Sarkhel’s place. However, supporters of Biswal openly spoke out that Sarkhel will get the candidature of Congress for Paradip constituency in the 2019 elections.
It may pertinent to mention here that during 2009 elections Congress leader Ramesh Chandra Samantaray was the prime claimant of candidature. However, Congress neglected him and picked up Pramod Kishore Jena as its candidate.
Following this decision the party suffered major jolt as its candidate Jena got mere 12,000 votes while Ramesh who contested as independent candidate bagged 32,000 votes grabbing the second position in the election.
Similarly, during 2014 elections, Pramod strengthened his organisational field and opted to be the party’s candidate. However, on the nomination filing day, Congress chose Bapi Sarkhel as its candidate.
Bapi gave BJD a cutthroat contest by getting 47,000 votes.
Though Damodar Rout has been expelled from BJD, Bapi’s higher chances of winning the upcoming poll has become the talk of the town.
Meanwhile, Biswal mocked over Bapi’s absence during his visit leaving everybody guessing that what would be Bapi’s reaction hereafter.
PNN