Paralakhemundi: The Congress is trying hard to retain the Paralakhemundi Assembly seat (No: 137) in Gajapati district, and many hopefuls are lobbying for party tickets here.
This constituency comprises the three blocks of Gumma, Goshani and Kashinagar, including the Kashinagar Notified Area Council and Paralakhemundi Municipal area. There were 1,94,115 voters here in 2014, of which 95,940 were males and 98,175 females.
Last time, there was a straight fight between the newly elected Congress candidate K. Suriya Rao who bagged 61,014 votes and BJD contender K. Narayana Rao who secured 59,595 votes. The BJP’s Tripati Nayak came third with just 6,400 votes.
The possibility of an alliance between some political parties cannot be ruled out this time. A change in equations within parties is also expected in Paralakhemundi.
With numerous hopefuls lobbying for the ticket Congress leader Tirupati Panigrahi has been conducting marathon party workers’ meets, public meetings and maintaining close contact with the public to strengthen his candidature.
“I am hopeful of getting the party ticket this time and all party workers are closely associated with me. If given a chance, I will definitely win this seat for the Congress,” Panigrahi said.
Meanwhile, sitting MLA, K. Suriya Rao, who had slowed down a bit due to ill health, has now entered the field to claim the party ticket. He has said that he is ready to serve the constituency again, if the party high command allows him. He has also said that he is ready to take up any other responsibility that the party gives him.
Another hopeful who is in the race for the Congress ticket here is local leader K. Ramaswamy. He is popular here as a young leader.
Long time President of town Congress wing, Basant Kumar Panda, is also in the race for a ticket.
In the BJD, K. Narayan Rao, who had lost last time by a small margin, is a leading claimant for the ticket. He is also constantly in touch with party workers, and is very much involved in party programmes. He has many strong supporters in the BJD.
Professor Maruta Kumar Pal, who was a hopeful last time, is also in the run for the ticket. He speeded up development projects and has strengthened the BJD organisation through various programmes and meetings, especially in Gumma block.
Giving his views he said, “I am hopeful of winning the hearts of BJD leaders and voters. During the cyclone Titli, I played the lead role in rushing government assistance to affected people and kept in close contact with them in their hour of need.”
Princess Kalyani Devi, who joined the BJD recently, is also in the ticket race. It is learnt that former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik’s family is on good terms with the royal family of Paralakhemundi.
The image of the royal family in this region is a good reason for her to claim the party ticket. She is visiting all areas of the constituency and contacting the public.
Another BJD leader in the race is D. Jagannath Raju, the head of a local NGO.
He joined the ticket race on the strength of the role he played in disaster management during the cyclone through his NGO. He has been participating in most BJD programmes and party meetings.
The BJP’s G. Venkata Ravana is one of the prominent leaders lobbying for the party ticket in this Assembly constituency. He happens to be the president of the BJP’s Paralakhemundi wing.
“Even though I tried for the BJP ticket twice, I was not given it. But I remained a disciplined worker of the party and tried my best to strengthen the party organisation.”
Another BJP ticket hopeful here is Siddheswar Mishra. He is a former president of the BJP’s Paralakhemundi wing, and was also a member of the BJP’s state working committee.
He said, “I have always participated in party programmes. I hope the leadership will give me a chance to contest this time.”
There are also reports that the former chairman of Paralakhemundi municipality, Tripati Nayak, may contest on a BJP ticket. During the last elections he came third.
Observers say that ground level political equations depend on who gets tickets of the mainstream parties.
PNN
