Nimapara: Nimapara Assembly constituency in Puri district is heading towards a three-corner contest in the 2019 elections.
Altogether seven candidates have filed their nominations for Nimapara segment, which would go to the polls April 29.
Ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has fielded two-time MLA Samir Ranjan Dash while Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated its women wing Odisha unit president Pravati Parida to contest the polls. The Congress party has chosen Dillip Nayak as its nominee. Besides, Shankar Prasad Bhoi (BSP), Debashish Mishra (Odisha Pragati Dal), Mihir Prasad Bhoi (Akhila Bharat Hindu Mahasabha) and Mitu Mahapatra (All India Forward Bloc) have filed their nominations for Nimapara seat.
“Altogether seven candidates are fighting the polls from Nimapara. But, we believe that there would be triangular contest among BJD, BJP and Congress nominees to win the seat,” said a political observer.
Dash, as BJD candidate, had defeated Congress nominee Satyabrata Patra by a margin of 39, 154 votes in 2009 Assembly elections. Dash had retained the seat in 2014 Assembly elections by defeating his BJP rival Pravati Parida by 29, 637 votes.
BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had appointed Dash as Puri district planning board chairman. Moreover, Dash has been appointed as a spokesperson for the regional party.
According to political observers, Dash has consolidated his position in the constituency in last 10 years. The two-time MLA is now highlighting the developmental works of BJD government in state to retain the seat in the 2019 polls.
“Dash has implemented several developmental projects in Nimapara. He has the backing of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. We hope that he would score a hat-trick by winning the seat for the third time in a row,” said a supporter of Dash.
On the other hand, BJP nominee Parida has been trying hard to strengthen the saffron party organisation in the constituency. She has also actively participated in several agitations to highlight various issues related to women and children. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has introduced several people-centric programmes in last five years. The people of Nimapara and Odisha would definitely vote for BJP in the polls,” Parida said.
Congress nominee Dillip Nayak is a greenhorn in electoral politics. But, Nayak has been working for the welfare of common people in Nimapara area for last several years. “As the president of Nimapara-Gop Naba Nirman Parishad, I have been working for the welfare of common people. I am here to serve the people. The voters would vote for me to finish corruption and exploitation from Nimapara,” Nayak said.
