Berhampur: With the Assembly elections in Odisha slated for next year, the ruling BJD and the opposition BJP and Congress are gearing up in full swing to achieve favourable results. The 13 Assembly constituencies in Ganjam district will see a three-way tussle between the BJD, BJP and Congress.
Speculation is also rife that Ganjam will see the ‘son rise in some of these Assembly constituencies’ as some of the lawmakers are planning to retire and nominate their sons. BJD has been quick to jump into the electoral bandwagon as a part of its preparations for the Assembly polls. The party undertook various ‘connect’ programmes in the 13 Assembly segments on the Foundation Day of the party and on the birth anniversary of late Chief Minister Biju Patnaik. The BJP on the other hand is concentrating on zonal and booth-level programmes to reach out to the people.
Sources said Tuesday, that Digapahandi MLA Surya Narayan Patra is all set to vacate his seat for heir apparent Biplab in the upcoming Assembly polls. The former Speaker of the Odisha Assembly and a seven-time legislator, Patra is contemplating retirement from politics due to ill health. It has also prevented him from visiting his constituency for a long time. Meanwhile it is clear that the mantle has been passed on to Biplab who is visiting the constituency on a regular basis. Patra loyalists are hopeful that Biplab will succeed him.
However, a twist to the tale has been added by former Digapahandi block chairperson Bipin Pradhan. He is also an aspirant to contest from the same seat for the upcoming elections. It is clear that both Biplab and Bipin are not ready to concede an inch to one another. Sources said that another senior BJD leader is also planning to throw in his hat in case Patra formally announces his retirement from active politics. Odisha Urban Development Minister Usha Devi, who is an MLA from the Chikiti Assembly segment, is also planning to give up her seat for son Chinmayananda Swroop Dev. The sixtime MLA and two-time Odisha minister has already expressed her desire to retire from politics and project her son in her place. Chinmayananda has been very active in the recent past as he is reaching out to the voters.
Speculation is also rife that Aska MLA Manjula Swain’s son Nachiketa is set to contest on a BJD ticket. Nachiketa is active in Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD) and is also the president of party’s zonal unit. Manjula is also keen that Nachiketa contests from Aska. In the end, however, what matters is the decision of party supremo Naveen Patnaik. If only he gives the go-ahead, there may be ‘son rise’ in the three Assembly segments of Ganjam district.