By Anurjay Dhal
BHUBANESWAR: Not only Congress voters, supporters and workers of Rajnagar area are unhappy, but also Party’s ranks and files under Kendrapara Lok Sabha seat , are on fire following their leader and former MLA Anshuman Mohanty, after deserting them, became Naveen Patnaik led BJD’s Candidate for this prestigious Parliamentary seat in Odisha, once represented by stalwarts like late Biju Patnaik, Rabi Ray, Surendra Nath Dwibedi , Baijayant Jay Panda and many more.
Even though, BJP and BJD have already announced their candidates for Kendrapara Lok Sabha seat while Congress yet to announce its candidate. The tussle between BJD Lok Sabha candidate Mohanty and Rajnagar MLA candidate Dhurba Sahu is also an issue, which could anger the Party Supremo Naveen Patnaik.
Congress had a 9.21% vote share in 2019 in Lok Sabha polls in Kendrapara, which may split after Mohanty joined BJD and became MP candidate. Congress’s Dharidhar Nayak with 1,13,841 Votes and 9.21% vote share became third in the race in 2019.
In the 2019 General Assembly Elections, Kendrapara had witnessed a fiercely contested battle. This constituency witnessed a 72.23% voter turnout in the year 2019. BJD candidate Anubhav Mohanty won the 2019 General Election with a victory margin of 1,52,584 votes, securing 6,28,939 votes. Anubhav Mohanty defeated Baijayant Panda of the BJP, who got 4,76,355 vote. In 2019, Jay Panda had got 38.53% Votes .
Since sitting Kendrapara MP Anubhav Mohanty , left BJD Party and all set join BJP, his supporters may switched to the Saffron Party in Kendrapara , which will also ultimately help Baijayant Panda.
Panda’s candidature helped BJP to increase its vote share in Kendrapara in 2019, which may see a further surge in 2024 polls. As per the latest surveys, BJP is in commanding position in Kendrapara in regard to Lok Sabha seat considering Party candidate Baijayant Panda’s popularity and acceptability as a leader.
MLA seats of Aul, Rajnagar, Mahakalpada, Patkura , Kendrapara, Salipur are coming under Kendrapara Parliamentary seat , where Congress has good a vote share while Mohanty was a Congress face in Rajnagar but his switching to BJD, has almost all aggravated Congress workers in the entire district.
Few days back, supporters of BJD MP candidate Mohanty and Rajnagar MLA candidate Dhurba Sahu were faced off at Pattamundai during a meeting. Political observers are opining that if resentment continue to brewing within the Congress, it’s MP votes may split and go straight to BJP helping Saffron Party’s 2 times former Kendrapara MP, Baijayant Jay Panda , who is trying his luck for the 4th times from the seat. Panda, who is BJP’s National Vice President , represented Kendrapara Lok Sabha seat twice from 2009 to 2019 and he lost the polls in 2019.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and 5T –Nabin Odisha Chairman VK Pandian has already met Party’s Kendrapara candidates while Rajnagar MLA Sahu had skipped that meeting. Sahu’s absence and non-cooperation may put Mohanty in trouble in his home turf of Rajnagar.
In Aul, where Congress Ex MLA Debendra Sharma, is planning to field his daughter Dr Debasmita Sharma, may not come to the rescue of BJD’s MP candidate Mohanty if required during the polls. In Patkura , Mahakalpada, Kendrapara, Salepur segments, BJD MP candidate Mohanty may face same fate from Congress workers.
Since Mohanty left Congress and joined BJD, Party supporters are seems angry and it will reflect during voting on June 1, sources said. In view of a huge Modi wave, BJP , which had raised its vote share in Kendrapara Lok Sabha seat to around 5 Lakhs in 2019 , is also planning to further raise the figure and win the seat comfortably.
Baijayant Panda who was fielded by the BJP, is expected to touch the land of Kendrapara on March 31, he will be taken into a procession to Shree Lord Baladevjew Temple, where he will offered prayers for the first time after his name announced by BJP to fight from Kendrapara Lok Sabha seat.
