Bhadrak: With just four days left for the final round of elections in the state, the BJP, the BJD and the Congress have stepped up their campaign in Bhadrak Parliamentary and Assembly constituencies.
The nominees of the BJD, the BJP and the Congress have started door-to-door canvassing and roadshows. The BJD is ahead in campaigning in Bhadrak Assembly seat which has 2,53,670 voters and 255 polling booths.
BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik took part in a marathon roadshow Tuesday for his party’s nominee Sanjib Mallick. Naveen highlighted Central negligence of the state and said that national leaders come to Odisha for picnicking during elections.
The BJP has not fallen behind in campaigning. BJP nominee Pradip Nayak has been conducting roadshows highlighting the development agenda of the Modi government.
He has raised questions about the development in the state claimed by the BJD in its four terms. Nayak has promised people industrial development, a medical college and more irrigation facilities.
Congress’s Nalinikant Mohanty is giving a tough fight to the BJD and the BJP. As he is the DCC president he understands the problems of people. He is promising a medical college and all help for farmers.
The Congress has issued a guarantee card containing 19 promises. Based on this Nalinikant sounds confident that people will vote for him this time.
The Bhadrak LS constituency is headed for a three-cornered contest between the BJD, the BJP and the Congress.
In elections between 1951 and 2014, the Congress has won seven times while non-Congress parties and the BJD have won eight times.
Veteran BJD leader Arjun Charan Sethi won a record eight times from this seat. As the BJD has refused ticket to Arjun this time he has joined the BJP. The BJP has fielded his son Abhimanyu. He is campaigning in the constituency hoping to win the support base of his farther.
The BJD has played the woman card by fielding Manjulata Mandal, the wife of Dhamnagar MLA, Muktikant Mandal.
The Congress has also played the woman card, and has fielded Madhumita Sethi, the daughter of former MP, Ananta Sethi. Madhumita is also trying to capitalise on the support base of her father.
Given the constantly changing political equation and the political backgrounds of the three candidates, the Bhadrak Lok Sabha seat is all set to witness a tough electoral battle.
PNN