Malkangiri: The leaders of main political parties have started campaigning in the Chitrakonda Assembly seat in Malkangiri district.
Ticket hopefuls are seen holding hectic parleys with their supporters amid hopes and anxieties.
Interestingly, the ruling BJD has many ticket hopefuls. BJD leader Swadhiraj is one of the frontrunners for the ticket here.
Incumbent MLA Dambaru Sisa is also hoping to contest. Others who are in the ticket race are youth leader Sarat Buruda, Purnachandra Baka, Bansidhar Muduli and Padmini Muduli.
Meanwhile, Ramakrusha Ganda has resigned from the post of PD (DRDA), and it is believed that he will enter politics. He is another aspirant for the BJD ticket. BJD workers are not sure who will get the party ticket for the forthcoming elections.
In the Congress, Mathili block chairperson Laxmipriya Nayak is in the race for party ticket, but many party workers have openly opposed her candidature.
Another group of Congress leaders are lobbying for party leader Balaraju Kape in this seat.
Former chairperson of Mathili block, Smrutiranjan has been pressing the party leadership to give the ticket to Balaraju, and has been conducting public meetings to raise support.
In the BJP, former Assembly Deputy Speaker Prahalad Dora is in the race for the party ticket, while another section of the party is lobbying for Jalandhar Nayak.
Reports said hectic closed door meetings by leaders of all the three major parties are going on.
The seat is currently represented by BJD’s Dambaru Sisha. He bagged 48,811 votes in 2014, while his nearest rival Congress leader Sunadhar Kakri got 23,270 votes. BJP’s Sarat Buruda had polled 17,587 votes.
Ticket hopefuls are keeping their fingers crossed till the list of candidates are announced by their respective parties.
The electorate is facing problems in irrigation, education, healthcare and transportation in Gobindapalli, Mathili, Khairiput and Swabhiman regions.
Many voters said that they will vote for the candidate who promises to tackle these issues effectively.
The Assembly seat has 88,398 male and 95,483 female voters and 243 polling booths.
PNN
