Today’s poll-it is the fourth and final phase of the 2019 elections-has enormous significance for all the major political parties in Odisha. Many believe, it could, well, determine the future of politics in the eastern state. “It’s a do or die battle for all political parties,” senior journalist Prasnna Mohanty, says.
Polling in being held in six Lok Sabha constituencies: Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur and 41 assembly segments under them.
Barring Mayurbhanj, the rest five Lok Sabha constituencies, are part of the crucial coastal belt of Odisha. The coastal stretch spanning across ten districts- Ganjam, Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Balasore- determines the fate of the party that forms the government in the state. Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur and Kendrapara, before being carved out as separate districts, were part of the erstwhile undivided Cuttack district which, has been- and continues to be, the political nerve centre of Odisha politics.
Coastal Odisha is considered as the bastion of the Odisha Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik led Biju Janata Dal (BJD). In the last two decades of its rule, the BJD has meticulously built up a solid and fool-proof grassroots level network in and around the entire east coast stretch.
In 2014, when the Modi wave swept the entire country, this portion stood rock solid behind Naveen and his BJD. All the 10 Lok Sabha seats-out of the total 21 in the state- and majority of the assembly seats were bagged by the BJD. Even in the 2017, three- tier Panchayat elections, though the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won handsomely in the western, it failed to make much impact here.
On the other hand, the BJP enjoys its base in the western part of the state and also some tribal pockets. Frankly speaking, the saffron party lacked much presence in the coastal belt.
However, this time, the BJP is in an upsurge, its visibility has surprised all. “The BJP’s visibility can’t be ignored”, concedes a senior BJD leader. Even, Congress leaders also agree. “We never believed, they (BJP) would cover so much ground here”, maintains, a young Congress leader who is also contesting as an MLA candidate.
Since, the Narendra Modi led BJP (NDA) government came to power at the center in 2014, Odisha has been on the focus of the pro Hindutva party. Both Modi and BJP president Amit Shah have made repeated trips to the state. With the objective to realize the 120 (assembly seats) target fixed by Shah, the two local union Ministers Joel Oram,
Dharmendra Pradhan and the entire party cadres in the state have put in a lot of hard work to strengthen its base in the state. With the Congress in the state in a mess, the party, is viewed as a possible challenger to the BJD.
“Everywhere across the country there is a Tsunami of support in favour of Modiji and the BJP. We are surely going to win in the state,” declares, BJP’s national general secretary, Suresh Pujari.
However, of all the seats, the one which has attracted the maximum attention, is Kendrapara, from where, former BJD MP-turned BJP national vice president, Baijayant Panda is contesting. He is pitted against BJD’s popular Odia cine artist and Rajya Sabha MP, Anubhav Mohanty. Though, Congress has put up prominent High Court lawyer, Dharanidhar Nayak, who had managed to capture the second spot in 2014, it’s largely seen as a BJD versus BJP face off.
Incidentally, Panda successfully represented this seat on a BJD ticket in 2009 and 2014. Last year he resigned from the BJD and months later joined the BJP. Well educated, soft spoken, hard working and accessible to people of his constituency, Panda comes from, arguably the leading industrialist family of the state. According to locals, he has judiciously used the MP LAD fund for many development initiatives in Kendrapara, particularly for drinking water provision in many areas of his constituency.
“He has also set up many mini stadiums,” claims a student from Kendrapara. “Whenever we have needed him, Panda has stood by us. The goodwill of the people is with him,” says a retired high school teacher from this sleepy coastal town.
Panda may be banking on PM Modi’s image, his good work and the goodwill of the people, but history of Kendrapara tells a different tale.
A known anti Congress fort since 1957, Kendrapara is like a pocket borough of the Janata Dal and then the BJD. The seat sent Naveen’s father Biju Patnaik thrice to Parliament in 1977, 1980 and 1984. The BJD has been winning here since 1998. No candidate opposing the Patnaik family has won the seat for almost the last fifty years. It’s a prestige issue for Naveen and his party. Therefore, the BJD will try its best to retain the seat, at any cost.
It also must be mentioned that in the last 19 years of Odisha politics, anyone, who has fallen out with Naveen, has never flourished again. However, Panda is ready to give a tough fight to the ruling BJD.
For both the BJD and BJP, states are high in Kendrapara. Prime Minister Modi addressed a rally here, while many of BJP’s central leaders campaigned for Panda. The top brass of the BJP’s state unit has also worked hard in Kendrapara.
On the other hand, despite the heat and humidity Naveen addressed rallies and carried out road shows, he also spent a night in this small town. A battery of leaders of the BJD worked for days together to retain Kendrapara. Most importantly, Naveen enjoys enviable popularity here.
It’s riveting contest. The entire state is in the grip of anxiety and suspense, something, the people of Kendrapara and the state (Odisha) are going to remember for a long time. As a Cuttack based lawyer, Girija Nandan Das, puts “It is political excitement at its best. You don’t get anything bigger than this.”
