Puri: Brahmagiri Assembly constituency in Puri district had witnessed close fight between the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Opposition Congress in last two Assembly elections. BJD nominee Sanjay Kumar Das Burma had defeated Congress candidate Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mahapatra by slender margins in 2009 and 2014 elections.
However, the political scenario in Brahmagiri Assembly segment has undergone a sea change after the death of Lalatendu. His daughter Upasana and brother Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mahapatra have left Congress and joined BJP. Moreover, a sizable section of Congress workers from the constituency have also shifted their allegiance to BJP.
Political observers feel that the BJP may emerge as the principal opponent of BJD in the 2019 Assembly polls.
Lalatendu had won the Brahmagiri seat thrice in a row from 1995 to 2004. However, Das Burma had defeated Lalatendu by a margin of 4,886 votes in 2009 elections. Similarly, Das Burma had won the seat by 1,341 votes in 2014 Assembly polls.
Sources said the BJD leadership is most likely to re-nominate Das Burma to fight the 2019 polls from Brahmagiri. Though Das Burma has managed to establish himself as an influential leader in state politics, he is yet to achieve massive public support from his electorate, feel a few observers. The two-time MLA has to bank upon the popularity of BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to retain Brahmagiri seat, they said.
According to sources, Das Burma’s failure to bring a notified area council (NAC) status to Brahmagiri and creaking healthcare facilities in the constituency may affect his poll prospects. That apart, the BJD leader has also been facing opposition from some of his party men for last few years. Opposing Das Burma, some BJD workers have left the regional party.
Meanwhile, sources said a strong Congress candidate may brighten the poll prospect of Das Burma as the anti-BJD forces would suffer a setback in the constituency. Grapevine has it that Das Burma’ good personal rapport with Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik may come handy in this context.
When contacted, Das Burma made it clear that the BJD president would take a call on the candidature issue. However, the legislator admitted that there was some discontent among BJD workers in the segment. “Some people are issuing statements against me. But, I have no complaint against them,” he said.
In this scenario, the names of youth leader Sheikh Safik Uddin and Congress leaders Umakanta Baral and Banambar Barik are doing the rounds for party ticket from the segment.
“Congress party has not weakened in Brahmagiri. I have been working for the party for last several years. I think the party leadership would give prominence to youth leaders like me,” Safik Uddin said.
Baral said he would obey OPCC president’s decision on the candidature issue. Barik too expressed his willingness to contest the upcoming polls. “I have been associated with several social organisations for many years. I am a disciplined worker of Congress party. The party leadership would take a call on the candidature issue,” Barik said.
On the other hand, Lalitendu has been looking after the BJP organisation in Brahmagiri for last several months. Political observers are of the opinion that the saffron party is most likely to field Lalitendu to counter Das Burma. “The followers of late leader Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mahapatra are with me. I have been working hard to strengthen the organisation at the grassroots level. I would work as per the order of party leadership,” Lalitendu said.