Bijepur: Ahead of February 24 by-election in Bijepur assembly segment, political parties are gearing up for a high-pitch campaigning, especially focusing on Gaisilet – one of the three blocks of the constituency where the voters belonging to farmers community could play a significant role in deciding the poll outcome.
The block has a population of about 76,000. Like Meher community in Barpali, Gaisilet is largely dominated by the ‘Kulta’ and ‘Binjhal’ communities, who are primarily dependent on farming, sources said, adding, appeasing these people has become a major task for BJD, Congress and BJP alike ahead of the by-poll.
BJD in action mode
The importance political parties are giving to Gaisilet can be gauged from the fact that the BJD, which has asked its top leaders to camp in the block, has been monitoring its political activities from two temporary offices set up in block headquarters here. While another transit office is set to open soon here, party sources said.
Party’s senior leaders – Minister Prafulla Mallick, Rajya Sabha MP Prasanna Acharya, MLA Debi Mishra, spokesman Prasanta Nanda as well as Subash Singh – all were seen camping in the block headquarters this day.
“Our campaigning has already begun in rural pockets,” said Mishra while interacting with Orissa POST while sounding confident about BJD emerging victorious this time.
Mallick, the party observer of the district, said, “Focus is on door-to-door campaigning.” With BJD supremo and CM Naveen Patnaik’s visit to the block scheduled for February 19, the party is also planning a grand rally.
Besides, some party leaders also believe that Pranaya Sahu’s candidature from Congress would help them indirectly by reducing the vote-share of BJP candidate, whose unexpected gains in Panchayat elections had surprised many.
Recharged Congress
Even though Congress is slightly apprehensive about its electoral prospect, in the wake of late Subal Sahu’s family joining the ruling dispensation, Bijepur and Barpali blocks, the party that has fielded Pranaya Sahu, a member of Kulta Samaj, is confident about performing better in the constituency.
Besides, the selection of a candidate from Gaisilet block is giving an edge to it over other parties. Party’s decision to give ticket to Sahu seems to have unsettled political equations, especially for the BJD and BJP who are now revising their strategies. However, the dismal show in last year’s panchayat elections and the alleged infighting among top leaders, is a cause of concern for the age-old party in this block too.
BJP’s quest for triumph
The BJP has also jumped into the fray and its win in two Zilla Parishad seats of the block has given it new vigor to prepare its ground in Gaisilet.
The party has assigned its top leaders including its legislature party chief KV Singh Deo and MLA Pradip Purohit to manage campaigning in Gaisilet block.
However, the infighting in the party over candidature of Ashok Panigrahi, who joined the party after quitting BJD, has allegedly marred its poll prospect. Sources said the party is working hard to ensure that the intra-party squabbling doesn’t affect its prospect in the block.
Besides, the BJP, which is facing a strong challenge from BJD and Congress, is reportedly in touch with the heads of the farmers’ and other communities to turn things into its favour, sources added.
Party’s youth leader in Bargarh Pritish Kumar Bohidar said that the BJP is also focusing on door-to-door campaigning highlighting the development works of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre and short-comings of the BJD state government. He said six union ministers will visit the block in the coming days for campaigning.
Sudarsan Maharana, OP