Cuttack: Salipur Assembly constituency under Kendrapara Parliamentary segment is most likely to witness a direct fight between the nominees of ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the fourth and last phase of elections in state April 29.
Though altogether 11 candidates have entered the fray from Salipur constituency, political observers feel that BJP nominee Prakash Behera and BJD candidate Prashanta Behera would fight it out to win the seat in 2019 elections.
In 2014 Assembly elections, Prakash Behera had won the seat on a Congress party ticket by defeating BJD nominee Prashanta Behera by a slender margin of 2, 117 votes.
Prakash left Congress and joined BJP recently. Many frontline activists of the Grand Old party in Salipur have also shifted their allegiance to the saffron party.
On the other hand, the Congress party has fielded Rabindra Kar to take on Prakash and Prashanta from Salipur seat.
It is worth mentioning here that Prakash had unsuccessfully contested from Salipur Assembly segment thrice within 2000 and 2009. BJD candidate Chandrasarathi Behera had defeated Prakash by a narrow margin of 1, 277 votes in 2009 Assembly polls in state.
“The traditional vote bank of the Congress party was with Prakash during last four Assembly elections in state. However, Prakash has now shifted his allegiance to BJP. Now, all eyes are on the traditional vote bank of Congress,” said a political observer.
Prakash, however, claimed that all the traditional voters of Congress party would vote for him in the 2019 Assembly elections. “I was instrumental in safeguarding Congress vote bank in Salipur. I had challenged the ruling BJD in four Assembly elections. Along with me, the traditional vote bank of Congress has merged in BJP,” asserted Prakash.
The BJP nominee also said that he has been highlighting the developmental works of Prime Minister Narendra Modi while seeking votes in this election. “The BJD government in state is involved in several scams. The voters would reject the regional party and choose BJP,” Prakash added.
However, Congress candidate Rabindra Kar countered Prakash and claimed that no one can take away the traditional vote bank of Congress party. “Prakash won the 2014 elections due to strong Congress organisation in Salipur. Now, he has left Congress. The traditional voters of Congress are with me,” Kar said.
The Congress nominee also claimed that people have lost their faith in both BJD and BJP.
“Prakash has joined BJP and is now fighting the election on the saffron party ticket. But, the traditional vote bank of Congress would remain with Rabindra Kar,” said many political observers.
BJD candidate Prashanta Behera, however, exuded confidence that he would win Salipur seat in this election. “The BJD government in state has introduced many developmental schemes for people. I have a dream to make Salipur one of the most developed places in Odisha,” Prashanta said.
However, many voters crticised the three major parties in state for their failure to bring a notified area council (NAC) status to Salipur. “No political party has the will to bring NAC tag to Salipur,” said Alok Bhuinya, a voter.
Many farmers of the constituency have also criticised the BJP government at Centre and BJD government in state for their apathetic attitude towards the farm sector. “We have been struggling to irrigate our lands. The Centre and state have failed to provide us proper prices for our produce,” said Pravat Behera, a farmer from Salipur.
Some voters have also pleaded for a change in governments at Centre and state in every five years. “Change in governments can only bring development to people,” said Uttam Behera of Salipur.
