Sambalpur: Ahead of the State Legislative Assembly and Parliamentary elections, the political atmosphere here is as hot as the summer.
Even though no political party has announced the names of nominees for the Sambalpur Assembly seat, the BJD, the BJP and the Congress — the three main parties in the poll fray — are said to be rift-ridden.
Sambalpur was once a Congress bastion, but the oldest party has been losing its grip since 2000 when the BJD-BJP alliance was voted to power. BJP veteran Jayanarayan Mishra had won the seat in 2009, while BJD veteran Dr Raseshwari Panigrahi was elected from the seat in 2014.
But in the coming elections, observers say, the political scenario has changed a lot and a keen fight among nominees of the three parties is expected.
However, all the three parties are ridden with factionalism which may play a crucial role in the win or loss of candidates.
In the last five years, with Panigrahi as BJD legislator, the constituency has seen a lot of developmental works, but a lot more has to be done in providing basic infrastructure like electricity, drinking water and road connectivity. This may put BJD in a bit of trouble while opposition parties may take advantage of it.
The opposition parties have been cornering the government on issues like establishment of a permanent High Court bench in western Odisha (a long pending demand), land pattas for the landless, doctors’ shortage at VIMSAR, the region’s premier healthcare institution, and poor drainage systems.
It is said that Panigrahi had an edge over her rivals in 2014 due to cooperation of her brother and veteran Congress leader Sribalabh Panigrahi, support of minorities and campaigning by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and other BJD leaders.
Now, things are different at the ground level. Former BJD district unit president Pramod Rath and his supporters oppose her.
Local leader Jaybrat Dey is said to be a BJD ticket aspirant. He has been holding meetings and rallies against the legislator, alleging irregularities and leadership inefficiency. His mobilisation of people against the MLA is an ominous sign.
There are other BJD leaders like Chandralekha Bohidar and youth leader Sanjit Mohanty who are aspiring for the party ticket amid speculation that the ruling party may field a new woman. Aspirants are said to be camping in Bhubaneswar lobbying for the BJD ticket.
Similarly, the saffron party is struggling with factionalism. The group led by Jayanarayan Mishra does not get will with the group led by BJP national secretary Suresh Pujari. In the last poll, Jayanarayan had to face debacle due to internal feuds.
Though the top leadership had advised the two groups to work together, their supporters fail to gel well in the larger interest of the party.
Jayanarayan is aspiring for BJP ticket this time. Though he has health issues, his supporters are hopeful of his getting ticket.
Former director of VIMSAR, Dr Aswini Pujahari, may join BJP and may stake his claim.
On the other hand, Congress has half a dozen leaders eyeing the ticket. Seven leaders, including former MLA Aswini Guru, youth leader Dulal Pradhan, Niranjan Tripathy and Sudhir Panda, have applied for ticket to the screening committee.
As for the party poll prospects, Dr Panigrahi says, “A lot of developmental works had been carried out in Sambalpur by the BJD government. People will vote on the issue of development. I have personal equation with voters. But it is up to the party president Naveen Patnaik to take a call on ticket.”
Former minister and veteran BJP leader Jaynarayan Mishra says, “The organisation of BJP is old in the seat and it is now well organised. In democracy, voters will decide which party and leader they would vote to. The leader who gains their faith will certainly be elected.”
Chandralekha Bohidar, state BJD secretary, said, “I have been working with BJD and for social work. I have good rapport with people and hope to get the ticket. But the party president will decide on it.”
Former Congress legislator Aswini Guru, said, “Basic issues of people have not been addressed in the constituency. The party will make people aware of these issues. The party has retrieved its base. No matter whoever gets ticket, all will work together.”
The number of voters in the constituency is 1, 98,555 including 97, 526 women.
2014 poll results
Raseshwari Panigrahi (BJD) – 48,362
Jayanarayan Mishra (BJP) – 38,404
Sureswar Mishra (Congress) – 19, 020
