By Our Correspondent
KENDRAPARA/BHUBANESWAR: Revisiting her Grandfather former MLA late Dr Dibakarnath Sharma’s style of election campaigning during the early 70s, Congress Newbie Dr Debasmita Sharma is now taking on BJD’s Mighty Pratap Deb and BJP’s New Face Krushna Chandra Panda in Kendrapara’s Aul Assembly seat in same style. The constituency is going to vote on June 1.
Old timers in Aul and Rajkanika said, late Dr Dibakar Nath Sharma, who is the former Congress MLA of Aul from 1967 to 1971(Fourth Assembly), used to take a Stethoscope, BP and other Medicines on a bag with him whenever he went for poll campaign. He used to treat patients during his poll campaign and now her granddaughter following his campaign style. Dr Debasmita admitted ‘So, I have been inspired by him,”.
By profession as she is a MBBS Doctor, the Congress MLA candidate Dr Debasmita, has been campaigning with her Congress supporters by walking from door to door by holding a note-sheet, a ball pen in her hand and putting a stethoscope around her neck.
Whenever she finds a patient during her campaigning, she checks him/her on the spot and prescribes medicines. Such a unique style of campaigning not only wins the hearts of the voters but creates an encouraging ambiance. People in Aul and Rajkanika are appreciating such noble gesture from a young woman MLA candidate.
The Daughter to former Congress MLA Debendra Sharma, 28 year old Dr Debasmita, who worked at Aul CHC for two and a half years and later at Koraput’s Kotapad CHC for 10 months and subsequently, at Kandiahaat in Rajkanika for one year, before resigning from service, is Congress MLA candidate for Aul seat, and she is taking on BJD’s Pratap Deb, who is sitting MLA and serving Minister in Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik cabinet and BJP’s new face Krushna Chandra Panda.
At a time when funds required to meet election expenses are skyrocketing, Dr Debasmita’s father , Debendra Sharma a former MLA has sold part of his residential properties to finance his daughter’s debut in electoral politics. Debendra Sharma has a history of selling agricultural land each time he contested elections in 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019. He clinched a victory just once, back in 2014.
Currently, Debasmita’s father Debendra Sharma receives a monthly pension of ₹30,000 as a former MLA. Additionally, the rental income from shopping complexes in Aul and Bhubaneswar helps sustain their livelihood.
Congress MLA candidate Dr Debasmita said “For generations, our family has dedicated themselves to serving the people of Aul. My grandfather and father have always upheld integrity, never resorting to illicit means to secure wealth for future generations. We must honour the trust the people have placed in us,”.
