kabisuryanagar: The first phase of polls in Ganjam came to an end Thursday. The second phase elections will be held April 18.
Nominees of the three major parties and an Independent have intensified their campaigns in the Kabisuryanagar Assembly segment under Aska Parliamentary constituency with only four days left for the campaign to end.
Given the political equations, the seat is likely to see a tough fight between the BJD and the BJP.
The Kabisuryanagar Assembly seat comprises the Kodala NAC, nine panchayats of Kabisuryanagar block, 23 panchayats of Beguniapada block and 11 panchayats of Purusottampur block.
In 2000, the Congress and the CPI had good sway over the electorate here. But the BJD began to cut into their votes after 2004.
BJD’s Ladu Kishore Swain was elected in 2004. V Sugnana Kumari Deo of the BJD was elected in 2009 and 2014 with huge margins. Her win laid a strong foundation for the ruling party here.
In 2009, Sugnana Kumari Deo polled 56,960 votes while her nearest rival Kishore Polai (Congress) got 33,892 votes.
In 2014, Sugnana Kumari Deo got 66,161 votes while her nearest rival Har Prasad Sahu (Independent) polled 45,661 votes.
Although the BJD was voted to power three times in a row, the constituency has several pressing needs like expanding the crowded bus stand, lack of irrigation facilities, drinking water shortage, absence of doctors in hospitals and cold storage facilities for farmers.
There are four major contestants in Kabisuryanagar Assembly seat. The BJD has fielded Latika Pradhan while the BJP has given ticket to Ranjan Polai. The Congress has fielded Bijay Kumar Sahu, while Abanikant Badajena is contesting as an Independent.
The four candidates have been reaching out to the public with promises of sorting out the constituency’s problems.
Latika was involved in organisational activities in Sanakhemundi, but she was surprisingly fielded in Kabisuryanagar. Former MLA Nandini Devi was given the BJD ticket in Sanakhemundi.
Although Latika is in a comfortable position here, the backing of BJD leaders like Hara Sahu and veteran leader V Sugnana Kumari Deo is vital for her electoral success.
The BJP has given ticket to Ranjan Polai, who was earlier the president of the BJD’s youth wing. Alleging discrimination by the party, Polai quit BJD and joined the saffron party. Since then he has been extensively touring the constituency.
The impression here this time is that the BJD and the BJP will have a tough fight. On the other hand, the Congress could not bank on former party nominee Sitaram Panigrahi. The party has given the ticket to Bijay Kumar Sahu, a former Samiti member of Khallikote.
Meanwhile, Sitaram, angered by denial of ticket, has joined the BJD along with his supporters.
The BJD’s district unit president Arun Panda quit and joined the BJP. This is posing a challenge to the ruling party here.
Independent candidate Abanikant Badajena is also hopeful of victory. Talking to this reporter, Badajena said he had been serving the people for the last 37 years and that they would repose faith in him.
Political analysts say that there is an undercurrent in favour of the Modi government, which is likely to boost the chances of the BJP this time.
MLAs who represented Kabisuryanagar:
2014: V. Sugnana Kumari Deo (BJD)
2009: V. Sugnana Kumari Deo (BJD)
2004: Ladu Kishore Swain (BJD)
2000: Nityananda Pradhan (CPI)
1995: Harihar Swain (Congress)
1990: Nityananda Pradhan (CPI)
1985: Radhagobinda Sahu (Congress)
1980: Radhagobinda Sahu (Congress-I)
1977: Tarini Pattnayak (Janata Dal)
1974: Sadananda Mohanty (CPI)
1971: Sadananda Mohanty (Communist)
1967: Dandpani Swain (Communist)
PNN
