Bhadrak: One of the key Assembly constituencies in the state is Bhadrak. With elections round the corner, political atmosphere is getting charged up and hectic lobbying has been going on by the ticket-hopefuls of the three main parties.
The Bhadrak seat comprising 36 panchayats of Bhadrak block and 30 wards of the municipality is reserved for the general category. The number of voters enrolled as of January 21, 2019 is 2, 47,488.
The Assembly segment had witnessed a keen contest between the Congress and BJD candidates in 2004 poll. In 2014, the fight was confined to two parties: BJD and Congress while BJP was a distant third.
Since 2009 elections, BJD has been winning the seat. Jugal Kishore Patnaik had defeated Congress candidate Naren Palei by a margin of 23,587 votes in 2014.
As things stand, the 2019 elections will be a tough contest among the ruling BJD, Congress and BJP, political observers say.
Meanwhile, Jugal Kishore has made it clear that he would not contest because of his age, but over six leaders are said to be aspiring for BJD ticket. The BJD supremo is yet to drop broad hints about any candidates.
Among the front runners for BJD ticket is Asit Patnaik (son of Jugal Patnaik). Since the district unit is in the grip of factionalism, acceptability of Asit’s leadership by the electorate remains to be seen.
It is said that Bhandaripokhari MLA Prafulla Samal has been lobbying for Bhadrak seat. The other claimants for the BJD ticket are Sanjib Mallick (son of former MLA late Hrudananda Mallick) and Zilla Parishad chairman Jagannath Swain, social activist Sitansu Mohapatra, Ashok Mohanty (son of former MLA Ratnakar Mohanty) and convenor of Biju Smruti Committee, and lawyer Amitabala Acharya.
Similarly, the BJP has multiple aspirants like Pradip Nayak who had contested the 2014 elections and polled 19,384 votes. He is also hopeful of getting party ticket and banking on the transparent administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The others who are in the race for BJP ticket are Manasmita Khuntia and Tusharkanti Jena.
Now, Congress claims to be regaining its ground in the segment after Niranjan Patnaik was made OPCC president. The frontrunners for Congress ticket are former MLA Naren Palei, district unit’s executive president Nalini Mohanty, PCC secretary Subhendu Ray Mohapatra, and Debrup Mohanty. Ticket hopefuls have already put up posters and banners all over the constituency.
While Asit Patnaik (BJD) is banking on the support base
of his father, Sanjib Mallick (Congress) says he would leverage on many local issues.
With the changing political scenario, voters are said to be looking for a new face to represent them.
Electorate in Bhadrak
Total voters: 2, 47, 488
Male: 1, 28, 242
Female: 1, 19, 214.
Votes polled (2014)
Jugal Kishore Patnaik (BJD) – 80,582
Naren Palei (Congress) – 56,995
Pradip Nayak (BJP) -19,384
PNN
