Jajpur: Candidates contesting from seven Assembly seats under Jajpur Lok Sabha constituency have intensified their campaigning. The district goes to poll in the fourth phase. Star campaigners from three major parties -BJD, BJP and Congress– are holding road shows and meetings to drum up support for their candidates.
Even as campaigning peaked in Binjharpur Assembly seat, BJD’s Pramila Mallick was found facing stiff resistance from voters Tuesday. Pramila had gone to Palatpur panchayat under Dasarathpur block for campaigning when residents asked her what she has done for them during last five years. Pramila is learnt to be on a sticky wicket in this constituency with candidates from all three parties upping their ante against her.
She abandoned campaigning in the middle and returned home. Observers said this is indicative of a change that is sweeping the political climate of the Assembly constituency. They claimed Pramila is finding it difficult to gain acceptance among voters due to large scale corruption, internal dissidence in the party. That senior leaders have kept away from campaigning has compounded her problem.
The Assembly seat is headed for a triangular contest. Her contestants are also facing a similar opposition from voters. Candidates have reportedly started distributing cash and gifts to voters to gain their votes. Cash and gifts are most visible in Binjharpur constituency where BJD’s Pramila is a five-time MLA.
Her contestants are putting in every effort to counter Pramila. The ruling BJD laid foundation stones and inaugurated a slew of projects like bridge and road projects to protect in Dasarathpur and Binjharpur blocks to woo voters. However, that there were too many aspirants for houses under the housing schemes, ration cards, KALIA assistance and pensions has turned away voters from BJD.
Residents of Palatpur panchayat are sore over her as a drinking water project under Swajaldhara project is yet to become functional even 11 years after it was launched. Resentment is sweeping across the whole of Binjhharpur constituency where basic problems of residents have become election issues.
The constituency has earned a bad name in the whole district for large scale corruption in drainage, irrigation and housing for the poor. However, it seems Pramila is least bothered about these problems. Observers claimed Pramila may lose the poll if she fails to turn the Naveen wave in her favour.
PNN