Paradip: With the expulsion of Paradip MLA Dama Rout from the Biju Janata Dal, three Ps – observer Praffulla Mallik, assistant observer Pratap Jena and district working committee president Prashanta Muduli have come into prominence in Paradip Assembly segment as well as in the politics of Jagatsinghpur district, a report said.
MP Kulamani Samal has been entrusted with the responsibility of a coordinator to keep the house in order in the changing situation.
For the first time, a meeting was held Monday in the residence of MP Samal at Kujang without the presence of Dama Rout.
Many grass root workers of Paradip and Kujang areas attended the meeting. The prominent leaders who attended the meeting included Sumanta Kumar Biswal, Basant Biswal, Prakash Parida, Golekh Chanda Nayak, Sanjay Behera, Bichitra Pradhan and Manas Parida.
According to the analysts, the meeting assumed significance in the wake of recent developments that include the congregation of BJD workers of Paradip at the party office in Bhubaneswar, opposition of Bishnu Das to Dama Rout, workers supporting Balikuda-Erasama MLA Prashanta Muduli, raising slogans in support of Debashis Samantray and Basant Biswal as the possible MLA candidate from Paradip seat in coming general election.
While a section of supporters sees MP Samal as a strong contender for the seat, others believe that the opposition of Bishnu Das was orchestrated by none other than Dama Rout himself.
On the other hand, it is believed that both Congress and BJP would field strong candidates (in terms of money, muscle and power) who can challenge the might of BJD candidate in all aspects.
Similarly, the BJD camp in Paradip is in search of a face who can take the fight to the enemy’s camp.
Though two names were doing the rounds for the MLA candidate, a meeting last Sunday at party office in Bhubaneswar has poured water on their hopes, observed political pundits.
PNN