Puri: Political parties have left no stone unturned to woo voters of Puri Lok Sabha constituency that would go to the polls April 23.
Candidates of Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Congress party and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have intensified their campaigning by organising public meetings and rallies. Activists of the three parties are also moving door to door to seek support from the voters.
The BJD has re-nominated Pinaki Mishra to contest from the segment in 2019 elections. Mishra as a BJD candidate had won the seat twice consecutively.
The BJP has fielded its national-level spokesperson Sambit Patra to take on Mishra from the seat while the Congress party has picked journalist Satyaprakash Nayak as its candidate.
Earlier, there was speculation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would contest from Puri LS seat. However, the saffron party has opted for Patra.
This time, as many as 15, 25, 698 voters would cast their votes from Puri LS constituency that comprises four Assembly segments from Puri district, two from Nayagarh district and one from Khurda district.
BJD candidate Pinaki Mihsra has exuded confidence that he would win the seat for the third time in a row by banking on the popularity of his party supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Mishra is also highlighting the developmental works of BJD government in state to woo voters.
The BJP has launched a high voltage campaign to snatch the seat from BJD. Saffron party nominee Sambit Patra has been highlighting the achievements of BJD led government at Centre to attract voters.
Moreover, Patra has been targeting the BJD government in state for its alleged failure to improve basic infrastructure and healthcare in Puri.
On the other hand, Congress party nominee Satyaprakash Nayak is new to electoral politics. Nayak has been targeting both BJD and BJP for their failure to bring all-round development to Puri.
Nayak claimed that both BJD and BJP were instrumental in handing over a sizable portion of Srimandir Amrutamanohi land to a private company.
However, political observers claim that local issues including the alleged mismanagement at Srimandir and poor healthcare and drainage facility would dominate the minds of voters in this election.
“This time, people will vote for a candidate who has the vision and capacity to solve the basic issues of Puri city and other localities under the LS seat. National issues are unlikely to play any major role here,” said a political observer.
Mahendra Bisoyi, a voter from Puri city, said political parties should try to develop tourism infrastructure in the Holy City. “We are yet to get proper infrastructure for tourists on Puri beach. Puri medical college is yet to see the light of the day. I urge people to cast their votes for the future of Puri. Voters should not accept any monetary bribes in this poll,” he said.
Shyamasundar Mahapatra, a voter from Satyabadi, alleged that BJD candidate Pinaki Mishra has done nothing for the people of his locality during his tenure as an MP. “The Congress party organisation is too weak in Puri. BJP nominee Sambit Patra’s campaigning style is attracting voters. The constituency may witness a change in this election,” he added.
Lingaraj Badajena of Brahmagiri said he would vote for a national party in the 2019 polls. “The BJD is a regional party and it would not have much influence in national politics. At the same time, I am quite concerned about the development of Odisha,” Badajena added.