BALANGIR: CAN CONG
END ROYAL FAMILY’S DOMINANCE?
Wednesday, 09 April 2014 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar
For the first time in many years, the Balangir
Assembly constituency is witnessing a battle between two heavyweight
candidates, sitting MLA AU Singh Deo of the BJD and Narasingha Mishra of the
Congress with Basu Pati of the BJP also being in the fray for the elections to
be held on April 10.
In fact, first the name of AU Singh Deo’s personal assistant
Harekrushna Sarangi had been announced as the BJD candidate for the seat. But
in view of Narasingha Mishra being fielded by the Congress, Sarangi was not
considered as a match for him from the BJD. So, worried over a possibility of
losing the seat, BJD boss Naveen Patnaik later announced Singh Deo’s candidature
though the latter had already been elected to Rajya Sabha.
For the first time in several years now, there is a voice for a
change of leadership in Balangir replacing the members of the royal family
represented by Singh Deo.Congress supporters are up in arms against the
dominance of the Balangir palace over the local power politics at the cost of
development in the area. Narasingha Mishra has stepped up his campaign mostly
on this plank.
The otherwise low-profile campaigning by Singh Deo has also been
beefed up with all his family members campaigning for him. The BJD’s major
plank is development and implementation of the Lower Suktel Irrigation Project,
establishment of a medical college and construction of the proposed
Khordha-Balangir railway line.
However, both the Congress and the BJD are claiming credit for
the announcement of setting up of a medical college in Balangir.
BJP candidate Basu Pati’s main plank is to boost a process of
development in Balangir which has slowed down in recent years. Narendra Modi in
his recent election meeting at Balangir called upon people to remove the
“Nokamma” Naveen Patnaik Government. A kind of Modi wave in the rural pockets
of the constituency has enthused the BJP candidate and workers.
Besides, there are also candidates from other parties like the
AAP and Independents are in the fray.This Assembly segment is spread over
Balangir town and Balangir and Degoan blocks. Political observer feel that the
candidate who would poll more votes in the urban areas would be ahead of others
as in the rural areas all the three candidates have their respective pockets of
influence.
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