By Our Correspondent
KORAPUT: Political fervour in Jeypore assembly constituency under Koraput Lok Sabha seat is heating up, with the major parties Congress, BJP and BJD intensifying their campaigns ahead of the poll on May 13.
The otherwise quiet streets of Jeypore are now adorned with vibrant posters, banners and flags, amplifying the election atmosphere.
Jeypore, the lone unreserved constituency under the Koraput Lok Sabha seat in south Odisha, has witnessed a see-saw battle between the Congress and the BJD over the years. Traditionally, a Congress stronghold, it was claimed by the BJD’s Rabi Narayan Nanda in 2000.
In 2014 and 2019, the seat returned to Congress with the election of its candidate Tara Prasad Bahinipati.
Confident of a hat trick, Bahinipati emphasized the development works undertaken, during his tenure, promising a continuation of progress and peace in the constituency. “In past 10 years, Jeypore has witnessed a surge in development activities. Among these are the Jeypore airport, University status for Vikram Dev College, integrated sports complex, 300-bed district headquarters hospital, among others,” said Bahinipati. More importantly people have lived in peace,he added. He expressed optimism about retaining the seat.
Indira Nanda wife of Rabi Narayan Nanda, who had lost to Bahinipati in 2014 and 2019, still remains a strong contender despite previous defeats. She criticized Bahinipati’s leadership, accusing him of leaving Jeypore in a state of stagnation.
The BJD is poised to reclaim the constituency, banking on promises of renewed development and responsive governance. Indira said the development works which Bahinpati is talking off are the work done by the BJD led Naveen Patnaiks govt. Under the leadership Naveen Patnaik and VK Pandian, BJD has executed massive development work in Jeypore constituency and we are hopeful of a win this time too,” said Nanda.
Meanwhile, the BJP, previously in the third position, Goutam Samantaray exuded confidence in the BJP’s strengthened position and vowed to address the grievances of the people“Our organizational strength has increased manifold compared to 2019 and both the BJD and Congress have neglected the peoples problem in the area. We are confident of winning at Jeypore,” said Samantaray.
While Independent candidate Pritish Patnaik grandson of Ex minister Raghunath pattnaik seems to play a vital role in 2024 election.
However, political observers anticipate a fierce battle between Congress and BJD, with BJP likely to play a significant role, buoyed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity.
As the electoral drama unfolds, voters in Jeypore remain focused on electing a leader who can effectively address their concerns and usher in tangible progress for the constituency,
