Bhubaneswar: At least 11 candidates, who are either sons, daughters, son-in-laws, daughter-in-laws, grandsons and granddaughter-in-laws of former Odisha Chief Ministers have jumped into the electoral battle from the three major political parties – the ruling BJD, the BJP and the Congress in the 2019 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
The former Chief Ministers whose kin are now in the fray are Harekrushna Mahatab, Biju Patnaik, Rajendra Narayan Singh Deo, Nilamani Routray, Janaki Patnaik, Giridhar Gamang and Hemananda Biswal.
Out of them only Giridhar and Hemananda are still active in Odisha politics while the others have breathed their last.
While Giridhar has switched loyalty to the BJP, Hemananda continues to remain with the Congress and is presently heading the disciplinary committee of the Odisha unit.
Both Hemananda and Giridhar who lost in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, have opted out of fray this time and instead allowed their daughters and son to contest the election.
Hemananda’s eldest daughter Sunita quit the Congress and joined the ruling BJD just before the elections. She is contesting against Union Minister Jual Oram in the Sundargarh (ST) Lok Sabha seat. Incidentally it was Oram who had defeated Hemananda in 2014.
Sunita’s younger sister Amita is in fray as Congress candidate for the Sundargarh Assembly seat. Both the sisters are making their debut in electoral politics.
Giridhar, who had the unique distinction of winning Koraput Lok Sabha seat eight times in succession, had never encouraged his son to join active politics. His son Sishir, however, is now in the BJP. His wife Hema Gamang, who had won both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the past, is out of fray this time. Instead Sishir will contest the polls from Gunupur (ST) Assembly seat as a BJP candidate.
Among other kins of Chief Minister’s, first Chief Minister of Odisha’ Rajendra Narayan singh Deo’s grandson KV Singh Deo and granddaughter-in-law Sangeeta are contesting from Patnagarh Assembly and Bolangir Lok Sabha seats respectively from BJP while his other grandsons Kalikesh and Arkesh are contesting for Bolangir Lok Sabha and Assembly seats under BJD banner.
These apart, the other contestants in fray are: Harekrushna’s son Bhartruhari from Cuttack Lok Sabha seat, Nilamani’s grandson Bishnubrata from Basudevpur Assembly segment, Biju’s son Naveen — also BJD’s leader — is a contestant from Hinjli and Bijepur Assembly seats, Janaki’s son-in-law Soumya contests from Khandapada Assembly seat. These are all contestants from BJD.
