Bhograi: With the panchayat elections drawing closer, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bhograi Assembly constituency of Balasore district are jittery about the growing rebels within the parties.
The coastal Assembly constituency comprises 50 panchayats under six zilla parishad zones. BJD, BJP and Congress have fielded their candidates for sarpanch, samiti member and ZP seats.
As many as 18 candidates for ZP member, 182 for sarpanch and 159 samiti member posts are in the fray. In many panchayats, BJD and BJP have rebel candidates contesting as independents.
According to sources, frontline leaders of both BJD and BJP are deeply worried about these rebels, who can upset the apple cart of the party nominees.
Local political observers said that rebels in both the parties have the potential of tilting the election results to an unpredictable extent. In 16 GPs, BJP nominees will face rebels as well as rivals from BJP and Congress.
As elections days are drawing closer, candidates have adopted various strategies to keep the voters in good humour and elicit their votes.
If sources are to be believed, candidates are sponsoring feasts with provision of ‘wine-and-dine’ at night. People of Sankhamedi village under this block (near West Bengal border) are upset over territorial row.
No one from the village has filed nomination for ward member posts. Locals alleged that the state is not collecting revenue from the village over years while their children are unable to get caste and income certificates for pursuing higher studies.
Former ward member Ajay Jena said people are deeply worried about this issue. Recently, holding a presser here, some candidates of Maheswarpur panchayat revealed their agenda of addressing issues related to drainage, housing and basic facilities.
PNN
