Jajpur: Members of a single family have been able to retain the Sukinda assembly constituency comprising Sukinda and Dangadi blocks in Jajpur district for the last three decades.
However, according to the latest trends, the constituency is likely to witness a stiff battle between Congress and BJD in the upcoming election.
According to political pundits, the situation is ideal for the opposition to make inroads, but the lack of cohesive approach from Congress and BJP could give yet another advantage for BJD in the constituency.
The Sukinda constituency, comprising 25 panchayats of Sukinda block and 23 panchayats of Dangadi block, shares its border with Dhenkanal district.
To its east and south, there are Korei and Dharmasala assembly constituencies respectively. Sukinda is blessed with huge deposit of minerals with eight mega companies and 13 Chromites mines operating in the constituency.
However, malnutrition in Nagada under Sukinda block for the last five years is a major cause of concern. Many local residents complained that their financial condition has worsened after being displaced from their own ancestral lands as part of mining activities here.
On the other hand, the companies that claimed their lands are getting richer and richer by enjoying political patronage, they complained. The locals also complained that the constituency is still backward in several sectors including pure drinking water, communication, health and education.
The local youths are also dissatisfied that they are not getting enough employment opportunities in the companies here. Political observers pointed out that the organizational position of BJP and Congress is not so encouraging to find out solutions for people’s problems here.
Besides, these two parties have so far failed to cash in on the dissatisfaction of local youths, giving renewed hope for BJD. BJD MLA Pritiranjan Ghadei is hopeful of getting a ticket in the upcoming election.
In the last election he managed to secure 58,122 votes while his rival Sarat Rout of Congress received 53,418 votes. The margin of Ghadei’s victory was just 4, 704.
On the other hand, Pradeep Balasamant alias Tutu, who contested as an independent candidate, now a BJP leader, bagged 17, 927 votes.
According to some reports, the BJD has plans to sidestep the Ghadei family this time, especially considering the issues like Nagada and meddling in mining and industrial companies.
Some sources indicated that the BJD might field veteran labour union leader Mayadhar Nayak or his actor-turned-leader son and Korei MLA Akash DasNayak from Sukinda.
There are speculations that the ruling party could field a government official from the Korei constituency. When asked Akash DasNayak for his reaction, he said, “Korei is my birth place. I am committed to the development of this area. But I will accept whatever decision the party president will take.”
Mayadhar Nayak said, “If I get a ticket, I will definitely contest the election for the sake of Sukinda people.”
Notably, Mayadhar, who contested the 1977 elections as an SUCI candidate, had been defeated by Anandmanjari Devi, a Janata Party candidate by a margin of 3816 votes (Anandmanjari Devi-12,853 votes and Mayadhar Nayak – 9,037 votes).
Similarly, in 1980 elections, Mayadhar on a SUCI ticket, secured the second position after getting 15,718 votes while Sarat, a Congress candidate, won by garnering 22,640 votes.
Mahendra Dhal is also in the run for a BJD ticket from Sukinda constituency. Though he was expelled from BJD earlier, he is hopeful of getting a ticket this time as he is active in various works under the party’s banner.
When contacted, Pritiranjan Ghadei said, “I will accept whatever decision the party president takes.” Sarat Rout was first elected as an MLA in a Congress ticket in the 1980 election. In 1985, he won for the second time and also got a ministerial berth. However, from 1990 onwards, he faced defeats in elections. From 1990 to 2014, Prafulla Ghadei won elections as an MLA and served as minister on different capacities. Sarat is not a regular presence in the constituency, resulting in poor party activities.
Several frontline Congress leaders including Sukinda block’s former president Amalendu Behura have joined BJD. It appears that none of the present Congress leaders are interested to contest the election.
Sarat Rout said, “The role of the opposition is not weak here. We have a strong base and clout here. I am the lone Congress candidate here and I don’t know if anyone is interested to contest the election from here.”
After the last panchayat election, Pradeep Balsamant who joined BJP is looking to boost his presence in the area by involving in various party activities. But, as per political experts, the infighting in the party might cause problems for the chances of Pradeep. But Pradeep said there are no differences or infights in the party. “I am sure to get a ticket from the BJP,” he added.
| Results of last two elections | ||||
| Serial No. | Candidate | Party | 2014 | 2009 |
| 1. | Prafulla Ghadei | BJD | —— | 58765 |
| 2. | Pritiranjan Ghadei | BJD | 58122 | —— |
| 3. | Sarat Rout | Congress | 53418 | 56362 |
| 4. | Pradip Balasamant | Independent | 17927 | —- |
| 5. | Rabindra Jarika | Ama Odisha | 6314 | —— |
| 6. | Abhinn Kumar Hota | BJP | 3738 | —– |
| 7. | Dolgobinda Mohant | BJP | —– | 2428 |
| Population of the constituency (2,62,562) | Total Male:- 1,33,068
Total Female:- 1,29,494 |
Voting Population:- 1,91,603 | Male Voters:- 99,177 | Female voters:-92,424
Others:- 2 |
PNN