“If the Congress is voted to power, we will waive off the bank loans of women members of the self-help groups (SHGs) as per the party’s Nari Nyay Guarantee. Similarly, under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, Rs 2000 will be provided to women who are the heads of their households. Widow and Old Age pension will be hiked to Rs 2000,” said Bahinipati, who was appointed as the president of Odisha Pradesh Mahila Congress in January this year.
Also Read: 'Congress to announce candidates for Odisha in April 1st week'
Notably, the Congress is lagging behind in announcing names for the Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in Odisha where as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced candidates for 18 Lok Sabha seats and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has already released the names of 15 Lok Sabha and 72 Assembly candidates in Odisha.
In his letter to BJD president, Naveen Patnaik, he said he wants a fresh start to meet the aspirations of his people and workers.
“My aim and purpose remain the same as it has always been from the very beginning to serve the people of the state and the constituency. I believe I am unable to do this anymore in this party. So to meet the aspirations of my people and my workers, I believe it is best to look forward to a fresh start,” read his letter.
On the other hand, senior leader, Surendra Singh Bhoi also resigned from the primary membership of the Congress party.
Also Read: After quitting Congress, Khariar MLA Adhiraj Panigrahi joins BJD
In a letter to the president of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), Mallikarjun Kharge, Singh said he has resigned from the post of DCC Bolangir president and AICC membership.
“I beg to say here that due to personal reasons I would like to resign from the primary membership, and the post of president DCC, Bolangir as well as AICC membership. With great honour, I thank you for giving me an opportunity to serve the party and my state for 38 years with passion, dedication and discipline,” read his letter.
As per senior Congress leaders, the party will announce its list of candidates for the 60 Assembly seats where it lost in the 2019 election soon. This list will be released in the first week of April. This was informed by veteran Congress leader, Bhakta Charan Das at a presser here on Thursday. Das is the chairperson of the Campaign Committee of the Congress in Odisha.
“The party will first announce the names of its nominees in 60 Assembly seats where our candidates lost in 2019. The leaders who are still attached to grassroots workers will be given priority,” Das said.
He further stated that he would fight in the Narla Assembly seat in Kalahandi.
“After the announcement of nominees, the party workers and leaders will begin their campaigns. Within one month, many things will change,” he asserted.
"I will campaign for our leaders in all Assembly and Parliamentary seats. Patience matters. The PCC has shortlisted some candidates. There are 60 seats where party leaders had performed well. Many have polled 35,000 to 65,000 votes even though they lost. They have increased their vote percentage by at least five per cent. They have worked hard for five years,” he added.
Earlier in 2004, Govinda had won from Mumbai North on a Congress ticket, breaking BJP’s five-term streak. However, the actor’s political career did not last long as he was criticised for not giving enough time to politics.
On the other hand, popular Bollywood actress Neha Sharma may enter politics, her father Congress leader Ajay Sharma hinted. Hailing from Bihar, the actress may fight the elections from Bhagalpur.
“Congress should get Bhagalpur, we will fight and win the seat. If Congress gets Bhagalpur, I would want my daughter Neha to contest, since I’m already MLA from here. But if the party wants me to fight, I will do that,” ANI quoted Ajay Sharma.
For the unversed, Neha Sharma is known for movies like Crook, Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, and Yamla Pagla Deewana 2, Tum Bin 2 and Mubarakan. She is also a social media star with over 21 million followers on Instagram.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that actress Swara Bhasker is said to be one of the candidates that Congress is considering for the Mumbai North Central seat. Reports also state that the other candidate who might get the Congress ticket is veteran actor Raj Babbar.
While addressing a press conference, Dilip Mallick said, “Earlier leaders were collecting this as donations. Instead of going to the party, the money was going to the leaders’ pockets. It has now been formalised. The parties are receiving donations through electoral bonds. While the details of donations are being recorded in the party books, the donors are also maintaining records of how much money has been given and who are the recipients. The entire system is impeccable.”
Also Read: Electoral Bonds: BJD received over Rs 900 crore, Aditya Birla Group tops list
“The Congress is terming this as ‘Chanda and Dhanda’. The Congress has received Rs 1123 crore, which was later estimated to be something around Rs 1400 crore. Let them say first what ‘dhanda’ they have given and to whom to receive the donation,” said Mallick.
Responding to Mallick’s statement, Congress leader Babita Sharma said, “They are so much afraid of Rahul Gandhi that they have even got our account frozen. They are collecting ‘chanda’ to keep their ‘dhanda’ going on and freezing our accounts. People should understand how much they fear us.”
A six-time MLA from Jatani constituency, Routray has completed 50 years in active politics. To celebrate this feat, the Jatani Nagarika Committee organised a programme where Routray was felicitated.
On the occasion, he made his retirement announcement.
Also Read: Want to play decisive role in Jatni’s development: MLA Suresh Routray’s son on joining politics
“My younger son Manmath Routray will fill my shoes. It is yet to be finalized from which party he will contest. Whichever party will field him, we will vote him to power. Jatani people today assured me that they would ensure his victory,” said Routray.
When asked which party he would join, junior Routray said, “Making use of whatever knowledge and experience I have, I will take a decision.”
Addressing a presser, Pattanayak said, “Naveen Babu is happy that unemployed youths of the state are migrating to other states in search of work. He is happy that he has been able to deceive Odisha people for the last 24 years. He is number one in that. Contractors of other states are plundering the state and he is asking Odisha people if they are happy.”
Also Read: In event of BJD-BJP alliance in Odisha, Congress will win 100 Assembly seats, claims Suresh Routray
“The Congress government supplied Re 1 rice and the UPA government provided ambulance service. They (the BJD) branded them as their own. They have hijacked all the schemes and yojanas of the central government,” he added.
“The BJD and the BJP are united. Plundering Odisha’s minerals is the objective of both the parties. The BJD has received electoral bonds worth Rs 900 crore. In such a situation, the Chief Minister is asking for ten more years. But the people won’t accept this,” he further added.
Responding to the Congress, BJD MLA Sudhir Samal hit back at Pattanayak and said, “The allegations levelled by the Congress are baseless. During their rule, the budget was Rs 11,000 crore. Today’s budget is Rs 2.43 lakh crore. The 4.5 crore people of the state can see the extent of development that took place in their time and that has taken place now. The government has worked for all sections of the society. He has done nothing by asking for people’s cooperation.”
“No one has looted electoral bond money. It is open to all. Those who fund political parties do so legally. The allegations are baseless,” he added.
The lawmaker sent his resignation letter to the president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC), Sarat Pattanayak.
“I would like to inform you that, I am hereby tendering my resignation from all positions including the primary membership of the Indian National Congress with immediate effect,” read his resignation letter.
Also Read: Congress leader Bapi Sarkhel’s wife joins BJD; her entry likely to churn politics in Paradip
However, he did not state the reason why he snapped the 25-year relationship with the grand old party.
“When people elected me, they hadn’t seen any party. After considering their opinions and those of my co-workers, I have decided to resign from the party. I have done what they wanted me to do,” said Panigrahi.
While there are speculations that he may join BJD, Panigrahi said he would take the decision of joining any political party only after meeting his followers and workers.
While hearing a petition filed by BJD leader Debashish Samantaray, the Orissa High Court on March 4, 2024, annulled the election of the Congress leader for allegedly failing to furnish detailed information regarding criminal cases against him in an affidavit during the filing of nomination in 2019.
Besides seeking direction to declare his election null and void, the petitioner had also sought direction to the Election Commission to conduct fresh polls. The petition further cited that Moquim did not disclose correct facts about his assets and liabilities.
Also Read: Congress MLA Md Moquim’s election to Cuttack-Barabati constituency nullified by Orissa HC
The Orissa High Court’s ruling had effectively made Cuttack-Barabati Assembly Constituency vacant until the next election.
However, the Supreme Court’s order on Monday has come as a huge relief for the legislator.
At a time when the 2024 General Elections are just around the corner, it seems things are going well for the Barabati-Cuttack MLA as his suspension from the Congress party was withdrawn in January and now the country’s apex court has stayed the HC order.
Amid this, placating the disgruntled and the would-be rebels has been a cause for concern for these parties.
Political analysts say, the BJD is jitterier than the BJP and the Congress on the matter of managing the rebels after the distribution of tickets.
As per reports, the three parties are weighing the pros and cons of the candidates of the three categories – youth, women and senior leaders and their winnability.
All three parties have multiple ticket hopefuls in almost all Assembly seats. Though the BJD has put up a brave font asserting that it is ready for the elections, more ticket aspirants have the top leaders on edge and added pressure on the latter, if sources are to be believed.
The ruling party is pondering how to manage the rebels while making all possible efforts to come to power for the sixth time.
The BJP is reportedly thrashing out strategies and doing course corrections for the LS and Assembly seats where it had given a tough fight last time. The morale of the saffron party is said to be high after leaders like Pradeep Panigrahi, Pemananda Nayak and Prashant Jagdev joined the party.
The party’s selection committee has recommended the names of the leaders who have organizational skills and winnability.
On the other hand, the Congress has though finalised its prospective candidates at the screening committee meeting, it has not yet announced their names. The party is reportedly keeping a close watch on the prospective rebels of the BJD and BJP who may be weaponised in the polls.
Former Union Minister and BJP veteran Pratap Sarangi said, ”The party is fully geared up for the fight. There is no problem! Names of shortlisted candidates will be sent to Delhi where their names will be announced.”
BJD legislator Nrusingha Sahu said, ”Since the 2019 elections, the BJD has been preparing for the elections. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will script history. The BJD has grown bigger over the years and naturally, there will be more ticket hopefuls.”
Congress stalwart Sura Routray in his signature style said, ”Our tickets have been ready. Until and unless the BJP and BJD announce their candidates, we will not announce ours. We will field such candidates that they would make their rivals from the BJP and BJD to bite the dust.”
Senior journalist Rabi Das said, “The BJP is choosing candidates for 147 Assembly and 21 Lok Sabha seats. The BJD too is minutely choosing nominees at Naveen Niwas for each Assembly seat. Congress has announced its manifesto, but hasn't yet fimalised its candidates.”
Congress leader Bapi Sarkhel’s wife Monidipa Sarkhel joined the BJD at the party office in Bhubaneswar. Her entry has added a twist to the politics in this pocket when her husband is working as general secretary of the Congress. Her entry is said to have thrown a challenge for incumbent MLA Sambit Routray, who is aspiring for a party ticket for him or his wife Gitanjali.
Paradip Assembly seat is considered a fort of former MLA Damodar Rout’s family. As per reports, some disgruntled party leaders have allegedly thrashed out a strategy to snap power from the Rout family.
Monidipa has been active in politics since the 2017 panchayat elections. She has been looking after meetings of party workers, labourers and booth organisation. On the other hand, his husband Bapi, though in Congress, is said to be keeping himself off from the party activities for some years.
Speaking to the media, Monidipa said, ”I am certainly hoping for a party ticket. But the party will decide who will be given the ticket.”
On the other hand, as for ticket aspiration, Sambit said, ”I have always said when hopes die, the man dies then. Anybody, be it me or you, can hope for better things. But all decision in this regard lies with the Chief Minister.”
For the last few days, it was speculated that Sambit’s wife Gitanjali has been in the race for a party ticket in Paradip. In the 2019 elections, Gitnajlai had campaigned for her husband.
Moreover, Sambit’s sister Preetinanda Routray who is a corporator in Bhubaneswar, is reportedly hopeful of a party ticket for the seat.
Preetinanda said, ”The party will decide that. No matter who is given a ticket, I will be happy. If my brother is given a ticket I will be happy. If I am given a ticket, I will be happy.“
Political analyst Prashant Rout said, ”It was earlier heard that either Sambit’s sister or his wife would be given a ticket if the seat was reserved for women. However, some disgruntled leaders want to checkmate the family. Monidipa’s entry into the BJD has added fuel to the fire.”
This development has come at a time when the BJD in Paradip is allegedly split due to infighting. In the last 15 days, disgruntled leaders held three rounds of meetings against the MLA. They have openly raised their voice against the MLA and warned the party against giving a ticket to anyone from the family.
Paradip’s BJD unit president Basant Biswal is leading the faction group against the MLA and is also a ticket hopeful.
A Bench presided over by Justice Sanjiv Khanna was hearing a plea filed by the General Secretary of the Congress' Mathura District Committee, raising concerns about the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
“How many petitions shall we entertain? We cannot go by assumptions. Every method has its plus and minus points. We cannot entertain this,” observed the Bench, also comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih.
In her plea, the petitioner-in-person Nandini Sharma said that "concerns of the Opposition parties about the EVMs must be first addressed by holding elections via ballot paper, in place of acting at the pleasure of ruling BJP."
Nandini Sharma prayed to set aside Section 61A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 empowering the ECI to conduct elections through EVMs.
"Whether plea of booth capture, ballot box stalling, invalid votes, waste of paper, etc against ballot paper is unjustified and irrational while one EVM machine stores 2,000 to 3,840 votes. This means that by manipulation in data of only 50 EVM machines per constituency, an electoral fraud of 1 lakh to 1.92 lakh is possible in the 'First Past the Post’ system'," the PIL said.
"The extra love and support of the ruling party towards EVMs creates doubts about the functioning of the EVM machines because the election results are supposed to remain the same, irrespective of EVMs or ballot paper", it added.
While answering the queries of reporters, Congress' Odisha in-charge, Ajoy Kumar said that the first list of candidates will be sent to the party’s Central Election Committee by March 20.
“In the first phase, the names of candidates for 32 Assembly and 10 Lok Sabha seats will be sent to the CEC by March 20. The second list will be sent by March 25 or 27,” said Kumar.
Also Read: BJD govt has destroyed education system in Odisha: Chhatra Congress
Notably, the party’s screening committee meeting to finalize candidates for Odisha was held in New Delhi on March 9. The leaders held a discussion on the list of candidates for the Odisha Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha elections approved by the Pradesh Election Committee.
As per the procedure, after the Screening Committee’s approval, the list of probable candidates will be sent to the Central Election Committee (CEC). The CEC will prepare a final list and send the same to the party high command for approval.
Kotia gram panchayat comes under the Pottangi Assembly constituency of Odisha. While the panchayat is inhabited by 7,728 people, of them 5,502 are eligible to cast their votes. Both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh governments have started flexing their muscles to conduct elections there.
The Andhra Pradesh government has earlier conducted elections there. This time too, the government is leaving no stone unturned to woo voters. With an aim to achieve 80 percent voting, the Parvathipuram district administration has reportedly been sending officials to create awareness in villages like Phatusinery, Haramandangi, Talasembi, and Uparasembi. The Superintendent of Police is also conducting public relations camps.
At the same time, the Odisha government is not lagging behind in its preparations. The Koraput district administration is making villagers aware of the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Also Read: Andhra Police Superintendent visits Odisha’s Kotia, interacts with local youths
“We have taken it seriously and created awareness about the use of EVMs in hamlets and revenue villages,” said Benudhar Sabar, Sub Collector, Koraput.
While the Odisha government will set up nine polling booths in the panchayat, it is learned that Andhra Pradesh will set up a booth at Neredibalasa, which comes under the Salur Assembly constituency.
Now the question is which government will conduct voting first. After the announcement of election dates and if the voting is held in phases, there are equal chances of both Salur (Andhra Pradesh) and Pottangi (Odisha) going to polls ahead of the other.
In case it is Salur first, then the possibility of higher voter participation can’t be ruled out. According to Kotia sarpanch, the Odisha government should pull up its shocks and take measures to wean away voters from participating in Andhra Pradesh elections.
“In case the voting is held first in Andhra Pradesh, people will go to Neredibalasa to exercise their franchise because they are getting some benefits from there. To check it, our government should take steps,” said Liu Gemel, Kotia Sarpanch.
"It is illegal for a voter to cast votes twice. But one thing I am sure of is that they would participate in our voting,” said the Koraput Sub Collector.
To stop Andhra Pradesh from taking away voters, the BJP and Congress in Odisha have begun early preparations, while the ruling BJD is exploring options to take legal action against it.
“The Odisha government should take steps so that Andhra Pradesh can’t persuade the voters,” said Congress leader Ramchandra Kadam.
Echoing the same, BJP leader Nadibali Chaitanya said, “The district administration should have been more active in providing training and creating awareness among the voters.”
When asked, BJD’s state secretary, Ishwar Chandra Panigrahi said, “If Andhra Pradesh government infiltrates and tries to create disturbance, legal action would be taken.”
The meeting was attended by Odisha in-charge Ajoy Kumar, OPCC chief Sarat Pattanayak, and senior leader Narasingha Mishra, among others. The leaders had a discussion on the list of candidates for the Odisha Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha approved by the Pradesh Election Committee.
After the Screening Committee’s approval, the list of probable candidates will be sent to the Central Election Committee (CEC). The CEC will prepare a final list and send the same to the party high command for approval.
Also Read: Congress sees opportunity in Odisha amid unsolved political equations
Informing about the development, OPCC chief Pattanayak said, “Today’s meeting ended on a very positive note. A good number of MP and MLA seats were discussed. The selected names will be sent to the CEC. Once the list is finalized by the CEC, the names will be announced.”
With the suspense over the alliance between the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) deepening further, the state Congress unit seems to be adopting a ‘wait and watch’ policy. In case of an alliance, many leaders of the BJP and the BJD may cross over to the Congress as OPCC chief Pattanayak had hinted yesterday.
In the 2019 Odisha Assembly election, 48 percent of votes were polled against the BJD. Of them, 32 percent of votes went to the BJP, and the rest 16 percent to the Congress. The Congress won nine Assembly seats and in 31 seats, it secured second position and in 20 seats, it gave its competitors a run for their money. At the same time, it came out victorious in the Koraput Lok Sabha seat.
Now the party is eyeing at least 15 percent anti-incumbency votes. In that case, its vote share would touch 30 percent.
The party has already shown some signs of regrouping by organising a women’s convention on February 21 and staging a Lok Seva Bhawan-gherao on February 24.
“I have said it earlier that some prominent leaders of the BJP and BJD are in touch with us. We are fully prepared for 21 Parliamentary and 147 Assembly constituencies. With the blessings of Odisha people, Congress will form government in Odisha in 2024,” said OPCC chief, Sarat Pattanayak.
Echoing the same, Congress Campaign Committee chairman Bijay Patnaik said, “Because of this alliance, be it a declared or an undeclared one, there is a growing perception among the voters of Odisha that Congress is the only alternative.”
Also Read: BJD making alliance with BJP fearing CBI and ED action: Congress
On the other hand, both the BJP and the BJD targeted Congress for riding high.
“There is nothing wrong in dreaming. But their body language doesn’t suggest that they will win. Prime Minister Narendra Modi enjoys the support of 90 percent people of Odisha and I don’t think, it will change,” said BJP spokesperson Surath Biswal.
Similarly, BJD MLA Sambit Routray took a jibe at Congress. “I have nothing to say about what the Congress is thinking. It can’t even meet the booth expenses. But I would like to say that it has been seen that the decision of Naveen Patnaik is accepted by all.”
Political analyst Rabi Das said, “If the BJD and the BJP go for an alliance, some leaders won’t sit idle. They will contest the elections as independent candidates. If this happens, Congress will have some advantage.”
The Congress has named six candidates from Chhattisgarh, including former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel from Rajnandgaon and Tamrdhwaj Sahu from Mahasamund, and six from Karnataka, including sitting MP D.K. Suresh - the brother of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar - from Bangalore Rural, and 15 from Kerala, including Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor from Thiruvananthapuram.
The list also includes two from Meghalaya, including sitting Shillong MP Vincent Pala, as well as the sole seats in Nagaland and Sikkim, four from Telangana, and one from Tripura.
The candidates were named a day after the meeting of the party's Central Election Authority held here on Thursday evening.
The Congress has put on hold naming candidates for three seats - two in Karnataka and one from Telangana.
“The BJD and the BJP under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik were ruling Odisha from 2000 to 2009. Even after that, they (the BJD) are still working with them (the BJP). With the Naveen Patnaik-led government being mired in corruption, they are afraid of the ED and the CBI action which is why they have surrendered themselves before the BJP,” said Pattanayak.
“The BJD is making an alliance with the BJP for its own interest, not for the state’s interest,” he added.
“Even if they (the BJD and the BJP) have joined hands, they can’t win. Congress will form the government in Odisha,” he asserted.
No reactions were received from the BJP and the BJD.
Let's visit Bhatli Assembly constituency to understand the issues that are going to dominate the election here.
Once a fortress of the Congress and then of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Bhatli, a much-discussed Assembly constituency in Bargarh district, is now being viewed as an impregnable citadel of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD).
In the political landscape, Bhatli is one of those seats that assume immense importance. Even though the BJD has firm control over this seat for the last three terms, many are not ruling BJP out of the equation.
Bhatli had been in the BJP’s kitty from 2000 to 2009. Since 2009, Susanta Singh has been winning from this seat on the BJD ticket. Over the years, he is said to have made a strong base not only in Bhatli but also in the district. In the last election, he had defeated BJP’s candidate Irasis Acharya by a margin of over 23,000 votes. Singh has also been a minister.
Because of this, Singh is hopeful that he, and none else, would get the BJD ticket this time.
“It has been four months now that Party Supremo Naveen Patnaik has given the green signal to me. I have no doubt in getting a ticket,” said Singh.
While the BJD is confident of winning the Bhatli seat, the BJP is pulling all stops to turn the table on the conch party.
In the last election, even though BJP’s Irasis Acharya suffered defeat he had secured over 74,000 votes, two times than what he secured in 2014. So he is confident that the party will field him. At the same time, Susant Mishra, who had contested the 2014 election as an independent candidate and secured 37,496 votes, is also in the race.
“I am one hundred percent sure that the party would give me the ticket. In the last election, the BJP had secured 41 percent of the total votes. This suggests that people have faith in the BJP and this time we will win,” said Acharya.
A confident Mishra said, “I contested the 2014 election as an independent candidate. I joined the BJP party in 2016 and was aspiring for a ticket in 2019. I have since been with the people and active in all sorts of activities. I am aspiring for a ticket this time as well.”
At the same time, the grand old party seems to be on the back foot as confusion prevails over its candidate for Bhatli.
In the last election, its candidate Saroj Mohapatra had to be content with 8375 votes, much less than what the party had secured in the 2014 election. However, some new faces have emerged this time to take baby steps into politics.
“The party as well as the workers are with me. I am sure that the party will give me a ticket in the 2024 election,” said Mohapatra.
“Due to some reasons, the party didn’t field me in the 2019 election. But this time I am confident that I will get a ticket,” said Satya Narayan Debata, a Congress ticket aspirant. He is the son of former minister Prakash Chandra Debata.
At the very mention of Bhatli, the picture of undulating paddy plants in vast stretches of land instantly comes to mind. If Bargarh is known as the rice bowl of Odisha, Bhatli is the leading producer within the district. But the farmers here are facing a lot of issues.
Irrigation is the main problem. While they mainly depend on lift irrigation, they say they are no longer able to pay the electricity bills. The farmers are also struggling with mandi problems and distress sale.
Besides farmers’ issues, other issues like bad road infrastructure and poor power supply are going to dominate the poll narrative here.
“We will vote for the candidate, who will work to improve roads and provide better electricity facilities,” said Gupteswar Nayak, a Bhatli voter. Another voter Khiresh Nayak echoed the same.
(Reported by Dharmadutta Padhi)
Dasapalla is an Assembly constituency of Nayagarh district and one of the seven Assembly segments under the Kandhamal Parliamentary seat. Once regarded as a fortress of the Congress, Dasapalla has been in the thrall of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) since 2009.
Incumbent MLA Ramesh Chandra Behera is one among the many aspirants who wish to contest the elections on a BJD ticket. Behera has strong reasons to aspire for a ticket. In the 2019 elections, he defeated Purna Chandra Nayak, fielded by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), by a margin of over 35,000 votes and, at the same time, ensured his party’s third consecutive win. He is also the party’s district president.
If the past three elections are examined, the party has never repeated an old candidate. If the party goes for its same formula, ten to one, a new candidate will be fielded. Besides Behera, social activist Srihari Nayak and Dr Rabindra Sethi, who works at a mining company, are also in the race.
“It is certain that the Biju Janata Dal will repeat its record here,” said Dasapalla MLA Ramesh Chandra Behera.
Social activist Nayak said, “I am working for the society. I will serve the society better if I get a ticket.”
Also Read: Odisha Elections 2024: Can a tenacious BJP taste victory in Dharmagarh seat this time?
This time, it is believed that the saffron party will give a tough contest to the ruling conch party. Its candidate Purna Chandra Nayak, a former MLA, secured 39,715 votes in 2019 and the party's vote percentage increased from 13 percent in 2014 to 30 percent. Hence, Nayak is seen as the main contender to get the BJP ticket.
At the same time, it is also being discussed that BJP district Adivasi Morcha president, Raghab Mallick and state executive member Manoj Behera are also in the race.
“It is a fact that there is more than one aspirant. The party will take the final call and choose a candidate, who can win,” said Purna Chandra Nayak.
Raghab Mallick said, “I will accept whatever decision the party will take. I am sure that the party will take the decision in my favour.”
“I have been with the party, its activities, and the people. So I hope the party will give me a ticket this time,” said Manoj Behera.
There was a time when Dasapalla constituency was regarded as the Congress’ impregnable fortress. The grand old party had won eight times from here. For the last time, Harihar Karan was elected from here in 2000.
In 2019, party candidate Prashant Kumar Nayak managed to secure only 7,949 votes. This time, besides Nayak, Abhisekh Dalabehera and Dasapalla block Congress president Narayan Sahu are in the race for a ticket.
“This time, people are aware of the secret relationship between the BJD and the BJP. So they have made up their mind to vote the Congress to power,” said Ranjit Dash, District Congress president.
The issues that have been dominating the political narrative revolve around development. The voters of this tribal-dominated area alleged that the promises of development made to them have remained pipedreams. Here MLAs are changing but not our fate, they alleged.
“For the poor and daily labourers, we want to have a good MLA. We don’t want contractor-friendly MLA. We want such an MLA who can feel our problems and take steps to address them,” said Pramod Kumar Pradhan, a voter.
“There is none to be worthy of our MLA. We want an MLA of the ilk of Harihara Karan,” rued Trinath Maharana, another voter.
In his February 25 post on X, BJD organisational secretary, Pranab Prakash Das revealed that the party has received more than 10,000 applications for party tickets for the 2024 general elections. “It is very gratifying that a large number of professionals and leaders of national political parties are also applying for BJD tickets,” he had said.
This revelation made by none other than the BJD organisational secretary has led political pundits to believe that it is going to be a herculean task for the BJD to make peace with the disgruntled leaders.
“If a school gets more students, it doesn’t mean that all of them will pass in first class. Let alone 10,000, even if 1 lakh aspirants apply, nothing would happen for BJD,” said BJP state vice president, Lekhashree Samantsinghar.
Congress’ Odisha in-charge Ajoy Kumar said, “Because of Pandian, there is dissidence in the party. Many BJD leaders are in touch with us. Those who want to save Odisha should join us.”
Responding to the statements of the BJP and Congress leaders, BJD Vice President Debi Prasad Mishra said, “The party will select those candidates who have winnability and a bond with the party.”
Besides the problem of plenty, the infighting in the party is going to be a stumbling block. For example, while Minister Ashwini Patra is currently representing from Jaleswar Assembly constituency, former Jaleswar block vice president Braja Pradhan has started lobbying for a ticket.
Also Read: No let up in protest over NAC list exclusion; BJP targets BJD, terms move unconstitutional
Meanwhile, he has threatened that he along with 30,000 supporters would leave the party if a ticket is denied to him.
“If the party denies a ticket to me, I along with my 30,000 supporters will quit BJD and join other parties,” said Pradhan.
Khallikote Assembly constituency is witnessing the same situation. Here, sitting MLA Surjyamani Baidya and former legislator Purnachandra Sethy are locking horns to get a ticket.
“If the party doesn’t consider me, I may explore alternatives. One thing is clear that I would definitely contest the election this time,” said Sethy.
Political analyst Rabi Das said the BJD is going to have a herculean task ahead.
“I don’t know what the party’s policy for ticket distribution is. But it would be difficult for the party to please those who would be denied ticket,” said Das.
Addressing a presser here on Saturday, Veteran Congress leader Bijay Patnaik said that starting from tehsildars to Collectors all are being used for various purposes.
“Officers have been recruited through either UPSC or OPSC. They have been selected out of lakhs of examinees. All have self-respect. They actually never want to work as workers of a political party. But Naveen Babu is misusing them in various works. Collectors are told to collect funds while police officials and superintendents of police are asked to arrest the BJD leaders who are going against the party. Even journalists are not spared ahead of the elections,” Patnaik fumed
He asserted that there is a group of influential officers in the state who are dedicatedly working for the ruling party.
The Congress veteran further warned those officials, pointing out the SC direction on alleged manipulation by an officer during the recent mayor’s election in Chandigarh.
“Courts are still working for justice. Congress has prepared a list of officers who are working for the BJD. The party will intimate the Election Commission of India (ECI) about their names,” he warned.
However, BJD MLA Sambit Routray countered Patnaik saying, "He should point out where the officers have crossed the limits. They are all sincerely working day and night to reach out to the people. Making allegations about officials should be backed by evidence. I myself find no official doing anything wrong. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s instruction is that the administration should reach to the bottom level. They are reaching out to people to check if the latter have got benefits of schemes.”
The BJP alleged that the KALIA yojana extension is nothing but the BJD government’s bait thrown at the farmers with an aim to subdue the growing anti-government wave.
“The BJD government is in fear and apprehension. When KALIA yojana was launched, the government had promised that farmers would get Rs 10,000 each. That promise was not kept. The government should immediately give them Rs 10,000 as they had announced in their election manifesto,” said BJP MLA, Mukesh Mahaling.
Echoing the same, Odisha Congress media cell chairman, Biswaranjan Mohanty said, “Instead of providing facilities like irrigation, cold storage and input subsidy, the government has given a lollipop to farmers.”
Odisha Labour Minister Sarada Nayak responded to the allegations of the BJP and the Congress saying, “Finding fault in everything is the job of the Opposition. KALIA yojana is one of the best schemes for beneficiaries. The yojana has been extended for three years with an allocation of Rs 6029.70 crore.”
As per the information shared by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the earnings of Odisha farmers are the second lowest in the country. The monthly income of a farmer here is only Rs 5112. As a result, over 61 percent of farmers are under loan burden. In such a situation, the government’s announcement is being dubbed as a gimmick by farmer leaders.
“The state government is treating us differently. When it comes to helping farmers, its mindset remains the same. The announced amount (Rs 4000) is a drop in the ocean. The yojana has been extended to woo farmers,” said Seshadeba Nanda, a farmers’ leader.
Lamba, who is on her maiden visit to Odisha, said that women in Odisha are being deceived in the name of empowerment.
“Rahul Gandhi had recently come to Odisha during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. He had imparted the guru mantra to the party workers. As per his suggestion, women and the women leaders of the Congress in Odisha will be told about the strategies,” Lamba added.
The Congress leader also said that the executive body meeting of the Odisha unit of the Mahila Congress will be held and it will be re-constituted.
Also Read: ‘Unhappy with Odisha PCC President’, former Minister Nabin Chandra Narayan Das quits Congress
The newly appointed president of the Odisha Mahila Congress, Minakshi Bahinipati will take oath tomorrow, she added.
No commentds were recieved from the ruling BJD.
In the last 10 days, the Odisha government has announced financial incentives under 13 schemes and has also hiked pension allowances. It seems as if the government has loosened the purse strings ahead of the General Elections to woo voters.
Such a bid by the government to empty the coffers may get the BJD political dividends in the elections, but many have questioned the impact it will have on fiscal management later.
Opposition parties have lashed out at the government over the issue, terming such schemes as bribe to voters.
As per reports, BJD leaders distributed Rs 1000 cash to NFSA beneficiaries at many places. About 95 lakh people in the state will get this assistance for which Rs 1,237 crore will be spent from the state exchequer.
SHG members under Mission Shakti will also avail of Rs 1000 for uniforms, college students will get scholarships, unemployed youths will be provided interest-free loans of Rs 1 lakh, and weavers, Krushak Sathis, and cooks will get a hike in their monthly allowances. Besides, the Mamata Yojana assistance was hiked from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000.
Taking a dig at the government for such sops, BJP leader Mohan Majhi said, "The BJD’s vote share has come down by 15 per cent, for which the party is heading for a disaster. They are offering voters bribe in the form of jute bags and Rs 1000 cash. What they are saying is take the bribe and vote for the BJD.”
Terming such sops as an electoral gimmick, veteran Congress leader Panchanan Kanungo said, “From where such whopping amounts would come? Either the government will raise the money through loans or stop the sops after two or three months. Earlier, the BJD government was distributing umbrellas and shoes. After the election, such sops will be stopped.”
However, BJD leader Nrushingha Sahu said, "People are now hit by the price spiral. Such assistance will alleviate their miseries. The opposition will criticize whatever is done by the government for the welfare of the people. People will draw benefits from such assistance.”
As for the cash incentives, financial analyst Rajib Sahoo said, "People should be empowered and made self-sufficient. With that money, schemes meant for their skilling should be implemented."
“The Opposition parties are mired in the swamp of negativism, narrow-mindedness and corruption. They are gradually in splits and heading for the verge of collapse. The entire nation has now put a question mark on their policies, activities and leadership,” she added.
Further targeting Congress on the Ram Mandir issue, the BJP leader also said that Congress leaders boycotted the Pran Partishtha of Ram Lalla and it indicates their expertise in community-pleasing politics.
“Congress and its allies have been opposing all the historic decisions taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi since May 2014 till date, and the efforts being taken by the government towards Viksit Bharat. Congress has mocked the top people in the Constitutional posts and it indicates their cheap mindset,” she observed.
The BJP leader also stated that all know the Narendra Modi government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption.
“We all are proud of the fact that a lot of work has been done for Susan (good governance), Seva (public service) and Garib Kalyan(welfare of the poor). We all are fortunate to be part of the largest party in the world, which has been carrying out its good governance, “she said.
The BJP MP thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership that has ensured corruption-free governance.
The demand for NAC status that began during the 2019 General Elections has now become a political gimmick while the residents here are bearing the brunt. With the 2024 General Elections inching closer, the BJP lambasted the conch party to stop playing ‘politics’ and immediately declare Borigumma as an NAC.
BJP leader Sudhansu Sekhar Jena said, “It is the demand and rights of Borigumma people to get NAC status. Borigumma rightfully has all the criteria and credentials required to be declared an NAC. However, the ruling BJD party is playing dirty politics and showing step stepmotherly attitude to Borigumma. So, we have decided to start a mass agitation if they do not listen to our demands within a week.”
Similarly, Congress leader and Jeypore MLA Tara Bahinipati said, “We all know that Borigumma is the largest panchayat in Odisha. It is home to around 15000 voters. It is in the heart of Koraput and connects with Visakhapatnam. So, ideally, it should have been declared an NAC, but they are playing politics. But, the people of Borigumma will show them (those playing politics) their power during the election.”
On the other hand, senior BJD leader Rabinarayan Nanda asked the people to have patience and promised that the right thing would be done at the right time.
“Borigumma has everything that it requires to be declared an NAC. So, I request the people to have patience. There is no doubt that it will be declared an NAC very soon. I assure the people of Borigumma on behalf of our BJD party,” Rabinarayan Nanda said.
Each SHG member will be provided with Rs 1000 for her uniform while an additional Rs 2000 will be given to each of the 1.5 lakh executive and management committee members for blazers.
However, opposition parties have taken a swipe at the government for such huge spending.
As per reports, the government is declaring sops and after sops for various sections of people. Given such huge spending for the women SHG members, many wondered if the BJD government is scared of losing the women vote bank. The financial assistance for uniforms and blazers is viewed as a bait to grab women votes. Why such baits were conceived ahead of the elections?
Also Read: Nabin Odisha promotional booklets peddling false claims!
“The BJD has been treating the SHGs as its vote bank. If it is saying that it is empowering women by giving Rs 1000 for uniform, it won’t work these days,” said BJP Mahila Morcha leader, Aishwarya Biswal.
Taking a dig at the BJD-led dispensation, Congress leader, Meenakshi Bahinipati said, “Whenever any election is around the corner, he remembers women, particularly self-help groups. Instead of making them self-reliant, this government is only distributing money. It is doing this out of fear.”
Hitting out at the BJP and Congress leaders, ruling BJD MLA Latika Pradhan said, “The BJD is not doing anything for its own profit. They (SHG members) have been given an opportunity to create their own identity.”
At the same time, community support staff like the MBK, CRP, Bank Mitra, and Prani Mitra have expressed their displeasure over the government's decision. They said when they don’t have money for fuel for their scooter, how the uniform and blazer would help.
“During his visit, the 5T commissioner had assured us that our salary would be hiked. But we are yet to get any letter in that respect,” said Babita Sahu, a Bank Mitra in Soro.
The promotional Nabin Odisha booklet distributed in Bada Kuleibira Panchayat under the Jamda block of Mayurbhanj district mentions about Maa Durga SHG. It says the SHG received an incense stick manufacturing machine along with Rs 1 lakh from the Mission Shakti Department.
A fact check revealed that there is an incense stick manufacturing unit in the said Panchayat, but it is not owned by any SHG, but by a self-dependent woman named Kundan Munda. She said she has not received even a rupee from the government for buying or installing the machine.
Also Read: After raids, ED summons Odisha BJD MLA Prafulla Samal, son in engg college land irregularity case
“Once I was asked to pose for a group photo. Then I had no idea why my photo was taken. The government has not given me a rupee for the unit. I have set it up with my own money,” said Munda.
In the same booklet of Kuleibira Panchayat, it is mentioned that all the houses in the Panchayat have been connected with piped drinking water. But the ground reality tells a different story. Here, people depend on a lone tube well that is reportedly dispensing water with foul smell. Yes, there is an overhead tank but it is lying defunct, said sources.
“There is an overhead tank in our panchayat constructed at a cost of Rs 2.96 crore. But people do not even have a drop of water from that tank,” alleged local MLA’s representative, Biju Gopal Gop.
When contacted, Kuleibira PEO Bhabagrahi Mahakud termed the allegations baseless, while the sarpanch of the Panchayat feigned ignorance.
“I am not aware of the projects undertaken under the ‘Mo Odisha Nabin Odisha’ because I was ill when the projects were constructed,” said Bada Kuleibira Panchayat sarpanch, Ajha Murmu.
Similar allegations have come from Adheigundi village under the Narasinghapur block of Cuttack. Here, a villager reportedly constructed a Maa Mangala temple spending money from his own pocket. But the ‘Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha’ promotional booklet mentions that the temple was constructed at a cost of Rs 4 lakh which was released by local MLA Debi Prasad Mishra’s Member of Legislative Assembly Local Area Development (MLALAD) Fund.
“The person who has got the temple constructed is one of my friends. I was also involved in the construction of the temple. I know, no government fund was used in the temple construction,” said Manoj Panda, Panchayat Samiti member, Adheigundi.
When contacted, the junior engineer of Narasinghapur, Manjula Dash cited it as a misprint in the promotional booklet, putting the blame on the printing press owner.
Narasinghapur BDO Neelamadhab Suna said, “I will order a probe and action would be taken against the ones responsible.”
Anshuman, son of former minister Nalini Mohanty tendered his resignation from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress two days ago.
He joined the BJD in the presence of Kendrapada’s BJD MLA and his own supporters.
Also Read: Former Angul District Congress president Biplab Jena resigns from party
Speaking to the media, Mohanty said, “Today is a very auspicious day for me. Inspired by the Chief Minister’s clean and development-oriented rule, I joined the BJD in the presence of my family members of Pattamundai and Rajnagar.”
Anshuman was elected from Rajnagar constituency to the Odisha Assembly in 2014.
Earlier on February 13, Biplab Jena, a known face in the political circle of Angul and former president of the District Congress Committee, had resigned from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress.
IMPLICATIONS OF SC VERDICT: This decision has several implications for political parties in India. Firstly, the ruling emphasizes the importance of transparency in political funding. It highlights the need for political parties to disclose the sources of their funding to ensure accountability and prevent the influence of undisclosed and potentially illicit funds. This decision aims to hold political parties accountable for their financial transactions and ensure that they adhere to ethical practices in accepting donations. It may lead to stricter regulations and scrutiny of political funding in the future. Furthermore, the Supreme Court's ruling underscores the need for comprehensive electoral reforms to address issues related to political funding, transparency, and accountability. It may prompt the government and Election Commission to review and revise existing laws and regulations governing political donations. The decision may also impact the financial resources available to political parties. The Electoral Bond Scheme provided a significant avenue for fundraising, and parties may now need to explore alternative means of funding and engage in more transparent fundraising practices.
OPTIONS BEFORE CENTRE: It is important to note that the Supreme Court's decision does not completely abolish the Electoral Bond Scheme but strikes down certain provisions. The government has the option to review and modify the scheme based on the court's observations. The central govt has three major options. Accept the verdict and comply with it. Second, file a review petition with the Supreme Court. It can also bring an ordinance and nullify the verdict.
He sent off a letter to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, informing him about his resignation.
In the letter, he said he was finding it difficult to carry out his responsibility to provide necessary service to the people of Angul and Odisha while being in the party.
Also Read: Odisha Congress gets 2500 aspirants for 147 Assembly seats
A primary member of the Indian National Congress for 30 years, Biplab has indicated in his letter that he may start with a clean slate by joining any other party.
“It is best to look ahead at a fresh start which may fulfil the dream of my associates and people with me,” he wrote.
At a time when the Congress is trying to grow stronger by bringing back suspended senior leaders like Mohammed Moquim and Chiranjib Biswal, Biplab Jena’s resignation is viewed as a blow to the party’s district-level organization.
In the last four days, the BJD-led government announced five schemes. On February 10, it increased the pension under the Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY) and the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) by Rs 500. On February 11, a 50 percent bonus for Kendu leaf pluckers was announced. Then on February 12, it announced one-time livelihood assistance of Rs 1000 to the PDS families.
On February 13, the government announced the Nua -O Scholarships of Rs 9,000 for male students and Rs 10,000 for girl students annually. It also announced the creation of a corpus of Rs 300 crores and by August month, the Nua-O Magic Smart Card will be given to all eligible students who will get additional benefits like bus/train travel concessions, free wifi, access to online courses, skill development, coaching programs, etc.
“These announcements are nothing but bribing voters. But the Odisha people will reject them. If Naveen Babu thinks he would wipe out the problems of poverty and migration from Odisha, he is wrong. With yesterday’s cabinet decision, the government has betrayed the people of Odisha,” said BJP spokesperson, Anil Biswal.
Also Read: BJD’s Debasish Samantaray, Subhasish Khuntia file nomination for Rajya Sabha election
Congress media cell chairman, Biswaranjan Mohanty said, “The government is number one in announcing new schemes. But the government should clarify whether the announcements are poll jumlas or not.”
Taking his government’s side, BJD MLA Prashant Muduli said, “The Chief Minister has announced several yojanas for the development of common people. If they are being viewed as something else, we have nothing to say.”
But the question that arises here is what has prompted the BJD-led dispensation to announce such schemes back to back. Is it its strategy to counter the anti-incumbency wave on the ground level?
It is viewed so because, according to the survey of Times Now, PM Modi’s popularity is increasing whereas the popularity of Naveen Patnaik is on the wane. The survey also claims that 43 percent of Odisha’s people are not satisfied with Naveen Patnaik’s rule and 31 percent are partially satisfied.
Several surveys by national organisations show that the BJP may give the BJD a tough contest in the coming general elections.
According to Rajeev Sahu, an economist, the government should come up with long-term plans to improve the living conditions of the people.
“The government is trying to help the poor people in different ways which would also help it win elections. But it should focus on long-term plans to bring a change in the people’s living conditions,” Sahu added.
A day after the state government announced to hike the pension amount from Rs 500 to Rs 1000 to beneficiaries, the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) on Sunday dubbed it as BJD's lollipop to voters ahead of upcoming elections, and promised to pay Rs 3000 as a monthly pension if it is voted to power.
The Congress also termed it an election lollipop and said it is thinking of hiking pension amounts for the people if it forms government.
Launching an attack on the state government and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), BJP leader Lekhashree Samant Singhar said, “When the BJD sees elections round the corner, it always comes out with lollipops of different kinds to various sections of people. The BJD and its government always believe in false assurance. I can remind you of some schemes like PEETHA, KALIA and Biju Yuba Bahini which had been launched earlier.”
“People suffer a lot for five years and stage agitations for their rights. Their agitations go futile. When just 15 days or one month is left for elections, the government makes such announcements. This has become the working style of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik," she added,
She asserted that the BJP will only fulfill its promise on the matter of pension hike. “We have given promise to the people. Pension will be hiked to Rs 3000. We will also look at the issues of the various sections of people who have been neglected by the government,” the BJP leader added.
She further alleged that the government has no sincerity to serve people, but the pension will be hiked to Rs 3000 from Rs 500 per month to the beneficiaries after the BJP government comes to power.
Addressing a presser, OPCC president Sarat Pattanayak said, “If the Congress comes to power, it will ensure that people of various categories get hiked amounts. We are thinking of it. Everything can be done, if the government nurtures a strong willpower. This BJD government lacks the willpower to do beneficial for the people.”
He also claimed that in the last 24 years, nothing was done, but hiking Rs 500 in pension amounts will make no difference.
Kartik Rana, a beneficiary of the old age pension of ward-12 of Balasore municipality, said, ”A monthly Rs 1000 pension will be of no help to us at this time. At least Rs 2000 to Rs 3000 is necessary at a time when prices of essential commodities are sky high.”
Other beneficiaries like B Arnapurna and Mamata Tarli shared the same opinion about the hiked pension amount, asking Rs 1000 will not come in handy for them given the high prices of commodities.
B Arnapurna, a visually challenged woman, argued, ”Other states are giving Rs 2500 to Rs 3000. Why are you giving me only Rs 1200.” Mamata fumed, “Elections are coming. This pension hike is a kind of bribe to take out votes.”
As per reports, Rs 1000 is less than the amounts paid by none other states like Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Sikkim, Arunanchal Pradesh and Tripura. In these states, beneficiaries are paid a monthly pension of more than Rs 2000. Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Telangana are paying Rs 3000 while the pension amount is Rs 3500 in Puducherry.
BJD leader Ashok Panda said, “All can see our budget allocation. Those raising the issue of pension hike should look at the budget of Andhra Pradesh. They should know Andhra’s fiscal management and how much salaries of the government employees have been pending.
The TIMES NOW poll has projected the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to win 11 out of a total of 21 Lok Sabha seats while the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is estimated to bag nine seats and Congress has to settle with one seat. However, it was predicted that the BJD would be the single largest party in Odisha.
The survey also claimed that the BJP will grab 44.8 per cent vote share, while the BJD’s vote share will be 40.4 per cent in the Lok Sabha election and that of Congress 9.6 per cent.
The BJP is sanguine of having more LS and Assembly seats as projected by the survey. However, the BJD and the Congress refused to accept the survey results.
The survey has claimed that the popularity of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has nosedived as 43 per cent of the respondents are not happy with his performance. About 24 percent of respondents are very satisfied with his governance and 31 percent are somewhat satisfied.
A day after the opinion survey, political mercury soared amid statements from political parties.
BJP MP Suresh Pujari sounded confident of BJP’s electoral performance, asserting that there is a huge difference between the exit and exact polls. He said, “One can say by assessing the current political scenario in the country and Odisha that it is favourably tilted towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP will get more seats than the BJD in the Lok Sabha elections and have a thumping majority in the Assembly to form the government.”
Congress MP Saptagiri Ulaka claimed that Congress’ position is strong. “After Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra that passed through Odisha, the ground situation will further change. We hope we will perform better this time. We will win more seats than projected by the survey,” he added.
However, the BJD refused to buy the opinion survey. BJD MLA Sambit Routray said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi or BJP will have no impact in Odisha. What will make a difference are Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and the Jagannath culture. No other thing will come into play. We are least worried about what TIMES NOW says. All will see how the Chief Minister and the BJD will come out with flying colours in the upcoming elections.”
It is said that the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is growing in Odisha because of the NDA’s welfare schemes while the popularity of the ruling BJD is declining due to its long reign.
There are reasons for the decline of the BJD government’s popularity. The government is mired in a number of controversies linked to the Srimandir Parikrama project, Arpan Raths, alleged fouling of the academic environs in colleges due to the Nua-O programme and alleged snub to people’s representatives in the Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha scheme.
Besides, experts believe that an anti-incumbency factor is said to be active because of several scams, irregularities, corruption at the official level and deprivation of eligible beneficiaries under various schemes.
Also Read: General Elections 2024: ECI team to review poll preparedness in Odisha from Feb 15-17
Earlier, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan asserted that the BJP will grab over 45 per cent vote share and register its win in 15 Lok Sabha seats.
Senior journalist K Rabi said, “If the BJP grows and its base organisation is existent in all constituencies, the Modi factor as claimed by the BJP will have an impact in Assembly elections.”
The state’s top Congress leaders including OPCC chief Sarat Pattanayak and Suresh Routray gave Rahul Gandhi a rousing welcome at Biramitrapur.
Thousands of people turned up at the meeting place to hear Gandhi. While addressing the gathering, he said his yatra’s main objective was to unite India.
Also Read: No lobby will work; leaders to apply online for party tickets: Odisha Congress in-charge
“The objective of the yatra is to unite India. I have started this yatra protesting against the central government’s five types of injustice meted out to poor people of the country. They include unemployment, rising prices of essential commodities, privatisation, and closing down of public sector units,” he said.
He also added that he would be in Odisha for three days and during this period he would listen to people’s grievances.
The state unit of the grand old party had a closed-door meeting today at the state guest house. Besides OPCC president Sarat Pattanayak, Odisha in-charge of the Congress Ajoy Kumar, and AICC Screening Committee chairman Madhusudan Mistry were also present.
Also Read: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to visit Odisha on February 6
Sources close to the party said the AICC has entrusted the responsibility of bringing transparency in ticket distribution to Pravin Kumar. Soon, e-forms will be made available for aspiring candidates to apply. In case of more than one aspirant, the Pradesh Election Committee will study the winnability of the candidates and choose one from among them. Then, a list of the aspiring candidates will be sent to the Screening Committee. After the approval of the Screening Committee, tickets will be given to the suitable candidates, informed sources.
“If anyone wants to contest elections, they have to apply online. Then there will be a survey team. The survey will be transparent without entertaining any lobby of any leaders. The report will be submitted to the Pradesh Election Committee. The Pradesh Election Committee will then send its final list to Delhi,” said Ajoy Kumar.
Informing about the selection procedure, OPCC chief Sarat Pattanayak said, “For ticket distribution, complete transparency will be followed. A candidate’s winnability will be our first criterion. Our priority will be women and young faces. Besides, those who lost the last election by slender margins will also be considered.”
Thereafter, Rahul Gandhi will lead the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra through parts of three organizational districts - Sundargarh, Rourkela, and Jharsuguda.
Pattanayak said, "Rahul Gandhi will tentatively arrive at Biramitrapur on February 6th night. A roadshow will be conducted in Rourkela, from Rajgangpur to Sundargarh, Gadagaon and Uttara. He will have a night halt at Jharsuguda on February 7. The next morning, he will lead the Yatra to Belpahar, Hrudaynagar, and Kanaktara before entering Chhattisgarh. All the programmes will be finalized by the evening.”
He also stated that after Rahul Gandhi, other prominent leaders of Congress will be visiting the state in the near future.
After AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge’s recent visit, Rahul Gandhi's visit is expected to boost the morale of the party leaders and workers.
Two days ago, AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge attended his party-sponsored Odisha Banchao Samavesh in Bhubaneswar and met the leaders of eight parties of the INDIA bloc and discussed strategies for the upcoming polls.
All India Congress Committee’s general secretary, K C Venugopal informed this by issuing a press release.
"Hon'ble Congress President has approved the proposal of the appointment of Smt. Meenakshi Bahinipati as the president of Odisha Pradesh Mahila Congress, with immediate effect," read the release.
Meenakshi has already proven her mettle while discharging the responsibility of Koraput District Mahila Congress. She is also known as a powerful woman leader in South Odisha.
Also Read: Big difference between Naveen & Biju Patnaik: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge
After being appointed as the president of the Odisha Pradesh Mahila Congress, Meenakshi said, “I am confident that I can provide safety to women. I hope women of 30 districts will help me in strengthening the Congress in Odisha. The responsibility given to me is a big one but I am confident that I will meet the expectations.”
It is worth mentioning that the Bahinipati couple had met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge during the latter’s Odisha visit on Monday.
On the first day of the programme today, people from Ganjam, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Cuttack and Kendrapara reached Puri and the administration took them around the temple so that they could see the transformation under the Srimandir Parikrama project.
The administration also gifted a packet of ‘khaja’and ‘nirmalya’ to each of the devotees on their way back.
But the programme was marred by allegations of undue favours being shown to the ruling party people for the sponsored visits.
“We had offered rice, betel nuts etc to Arpan Rath. When it came to the Puri visit, we were sidelined. It has hurt us deeply. We will teach them (the BJD) a lesson at the right time,” rued Kalpana Mallick, a resident of Kendrapara district.
Also Read: BJP dubs Puri Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa inauguration as party programme
A miffed resident of Bhanjanagar, Harikrushna Sahu alleged, "The government is treating this as their party programme. From NACs, Panchayats and blocks, their party people have been taken. Common people were sidelined.”
Meanwhile, the state units of the BJP and the Congress have sharpened their attacks on the BJD-led government.
Sources said, out of Rs 156 crore earmarked for the promotion of the Srimandir Parikrama project, Rs 20 crore will be spent on bringing people to Puri. Every day around 10,000 people will go around the project. This will continue till February 22.
While the BJP alleged the government is doing so to increase its vote bank, the Congress alleged that the BJD is using this programme to sweep the Parikrama Project irregularities under the carpet.
“It is vote bank politics. The government is bringing people to Puri with the hope that they will vote for them in the coming elections. They are spending the government money for their party,” said BJP MLA Subash Panigrahi.
Taking a swipe at the BJD, Congress spokesperson Nishikant Mishra said, “The people of the state have now understood that the government has committed massive irregularities in the name of Parikrama Prakalpa. To hide them, the government has started such a programme spending lakhs of money.”
On the other hand, the BJD said there should be no room for politics in Lord Jagannath’s work. “Everything is going on with the blessings of Lord Jagannath. Devotees don’t have any party affiliation,” said BJD MLA Pranab Balabantaray.
Through the massive rally, the party is keen to show its strength before the ruling party.
However, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) asserted that the Congress Samavesh and Nyaya Yatra will make no difference in Odisha.
The grand old party claimed that thousands of party workers, presidents of block units, district units and mandal units will gather at the Samavesh.
The AICC president will arrive at Bhubaneswar at 12 am and will be taken to the Samavesh venue in a massive bike rally.
After the Samavesh, Kharge will meet senior party leaders and the leaders of the parties siding with the INDIA bloc.
On the eve of the AICC president’s visit, PCC president Sarat Pattanayak came down heavily on the Biju Janata Dal(BJD) government.
Taking a dig at Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the PCC president said, ”In the last 24 years, the Naveen Patnaik government has turned Odisha into a poverty-stricken state. The government is neck deep in multiple scams such as multi-crore mining scam, chit fund scam and land scam. The government has failed to contain the price spiral. The Congress will put up a tough fight against the state government in the upcoming elections.”
Pattanayak said that the morale of the party workers and leaders is high over Kharge’s visit to the state.
However, BJD leader Sudhir Samal said, “The Congress’ Samavesh and the AICC president’s visit to the state will have no impact on the BJD. People are happy and are always with the BJD as the government has done a lot of development on various fronts.”
BJP leader and Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi lambasted Congress, saying, ”The image of Congress has become pale in the country. The existence of Congress has come into question after the BJP’s massive victories in three states. The Congress is in a miserable state. It may conduct Nyay Yatra, but it will make no difference.”
Significantly, the president of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) Mallikarjun Kharge will come to Odisha on January 29 to attend the Odisha Bachao Samavesh organised by the state unit of the party at Lower PMG Square. His visit is expected to give an impetus to party workers and leadership before carrying out a full-fledged election campaign in the state.
Addressing a presser in Bhubaneswar on Saturday, PCC president Sarat Pattanayak informed that the AICC is laying focus on Odisha and a great change is going to take place.
“Khargeji is coming to Odisha to be a partner of the change in the political landscape. He will reach here on January 29 to address the Odisha Bachao Samavesh,” Pattanayak said.
"The veteran Congress leader also will meet senior party leaders. We have 17 parties in the INDIA bloc. He will hold talks with the leaders of these parties aligned with the INDIA bloc," he added.
The PCC president urged the people of Odisha to support the Samavesh to make it a success.
Pattanayak also stated that during Kharge’s first visit to Odisha, the party president would hold discussions with leaders about the routes of the upcoming Bharat Nyay Yatra of Rahul Gandhi and review its preparation.
The PCC president also trained guns at the state government and asserted that the rule by non-Odias would not be allowed in the long term.
No comments were received from the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD).
Speculation about the return of Moquim and Biswal to the party has picked up after the two senior leaders met party's Odisha in-charge Ajoy Kumar at the state guest house in Bhubaneswar on Monday.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Moquim, said, “I along with Chiranjibi Babu met the party’s state in-charge and we minutely discussed the matters related to the party’s organization in our constituencies. There is little time for the party for the upcoming elections. We discussed threadbare about how the party will be taken forward."
Odisha in-charge of Congress Ajoy Kumar told media that they had a fruitful discussion about the party's organization. “Those leaders who are with us will be called for discussion. Our fight is to save the country. Our fight is to save Odisha. The fruit of patience is sweet,” he observed.
The All India Congress Committee (AICC) on July 16, 2023, suspended Barabati-Cuttack MLA Mohammad Moquim and former MLA Chiranjib Biswal from the party on the ground of anti-party activities.
It was then stated that OPCC president Sarat Pattanayak received complaints against the two. Acting on the complaints, AICC general secretary and member secretary of the party’s disciplinary action committee (DAC) Tariq Anwar then said that OPCC president Sarat Pattanayak complained that MLA Mohammad Moquim and ex-MLA Chiranjib Biswal were indulging in anti-party activities.
The DAC had served show cause notices to them seeking their explanations.
Moquim termed the DAC decision as arbitrary and pleaded his innocence. Biswal also dismissed the allegation of anti-party activities made against him. Biswal earlier made a controversial statement saying that there were only nine MLAs of Congress in the state, but 20 leaders were aspiring to become chief minister.
Despite their suspension, the two veteran leaders did not join any party even though there was speculation about the possibility of their joining the Biju Janata Dal(BJD).
They have expressed their displeasure over it, wondering why the report is not made public. They alleged that attempts are being made to facilitate the escape of agencies involved in the scam.
Corporator of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Gagan Ojha said, “Those involved in the tender process are becoming members of the investigation committee. It is an attempt by the CMC to fool the people of Cuttack in the name of investigation. They are deliberately delaying the investigation so that people will forget it."
Congress corporator Santosh Bhola said, "Massive irregularities have been done in Bali Yatra projects. The Committee that was formed to probe the scam has not made its report public. I was inquiring about it on Friday. The CMC is not interested in looking into the irregularities.”
CMC Mayor Subash Singh, said, “The investigation report will certainly take time to come and will be submitted to the Vigilance and then to the Odisha Police Housing Corporation for verification.”
Notably, a tender of Rs 32 lakh was floated for the construction of two welcome gates. Besides, Rs 96 lakh was reportedly allocated for a laser show while Rs 1.74 crore was spent for an AC hangar. The corporators of the Congress and the BJP had staged protests several times in the past, alleging a massive scam. Later, the CMC formed a committee comprising a city engineer and two executive engineers to look into the allegations.
In fact, these leaders, perceived to be spent forces having no political clout, may not come to the rescue of the party, which has been out of power for over 24 years in the state, as political analysts, on the other hand, forecast that the 2024 elections are going to be an acid test for the Congress.
As the elections are drawing closer, the state Congress saw one leader after another staging a comeback into its fold after veteran leader Ajoy Kumar was assigned as party’s state in-charge.
Former Chief Minister and nine-time MP from Koraput Giridhar Gamang, his wife and ex-legislator Hema Gamang, and son Sishir Gamang returned to the party after deserting the BRS.
The return of the Gamang family, which reportedly had a hold on the tribal vote bank in southern Odisha (once a fort for the party) is expected to help change the political fortune of the party in the region. The party's top leadership believes that at least a major chunk of the tribal votes that had slipped out of their hands may favour the party again in the 2024 elections.
The party also got a shot in its arms after former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP from Koraput, Jairam Pangi joined the Congress well ahead of the Gamang family.
The Congress with Sarat Pattanayak at the helm of the state strongly believes that Gamang and Pangi together with two incumbent legislators like Sanakhemundi MLA Ramesh Jena and Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati will help the party consolidate the vote bank which has declined over years in the southern pockets.
To add to its strength, the Congress high command has reportedly ironed out the differences that had existed between the Koraput MLA Bahinipati and party MP Saptagiri Ulaka.
Bahinipati said, “We welcome Pangi and Gamang. The tribal vote bank will be consolidated with their joining. Congress will perform well. The loss and profit will be clear after the elections. ”
MP Saptagiri Ulaka said, “We welcome former Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang. He wants to defeat the BJD government. We will fight together.”
The party leadership also plans to usher some suspended leaders into the party. The Central leadership is reportedly laying focus on Odisha after its dismal performance in the 2019 polls.
However, senior journalist Prasanna Mohanty said, “No important leaders have joined Congress till date, except Bijay Patnaik. Of course, some veteran leaders have returned to the party, but they have no political influence in the present scenario. There is no possibility of the party gaining politically from these leaders. The party has to change its base and change the atmosphere in its favour ahead of the elections.”
Giridhar Gamang along with his wife (ex-MLA) Hema Gamang and son Sishir joined the Congress in the presence of the party's Odisha in-charge, Ajoy Kumar in New Delhi on Wednesday. Apart from the Gamang family, former MP Sanjay Bhoi also joined the Congress today.
Gamang is a prominent tribal leader and was elected to the Lok Sabha nine times. Giridhar Gamang had quit Congress and joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) along with his son in 2015.
Citing reasons behind his decision to quit BJP, Giridhar Gamag earlier had said, “Insult on road is tolerable in politics but not humiliation. I have never tolerated humiliation and will continue to do the same.”
Subsequently, the father-son duo quit the BJP and joined K Chandrasekhar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).
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So Jeypore MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati requested the district administration to close all the bars and liquor shops on January 22.
“I would like to urge the district Collector to close liquor shops across the district on the day when the Ram Mandir will be consecrated in Ayodhya. If the liquor shops will remain open, people will make nuisances,” said the lawmaker.
Soon after Taraprasad requested the district administration, his archrival and former Jeypore MLA and BJD leader, Rabinarayan Nanda made a similar request to the district administration.
“I would like to request the district administration to take steps to avoid any kind of untoward incident on that day. I would also like to request people to refrain from drinking alcohol and having non-veg foods on that day. The district administration should take necessary steps in this regard,” said Nanda.
Alleging irregularities in the mandis, Deogarh Krushak Sangharsha Sangha has also joined the Congress party to voice its demands.
Due to the strike, all the government and private offices and schools remained closed. Besides, vehicular movement have been affected. Normal life was also disrupted in the district.
Shops and marketplaces have been closed following the bandh.
Since morning, the Congress workers observed the bandh in every major location in the district. Besides, they have blocked the National Highway (NH) Number 49, by placing paddy bags and raising slogans.
Due to the blockade, vehicles have been stranded on both sides of the highway. The commuters are facing issues as heavy vehicles including passengers’ buses have also been stranded on the road.
“Massive irregularities have been reported in mandis. Our paddy crop is remaining unsold, which is creating difficulties for us. Over 85% of farmers are affected in this district. The Odisha government is neglecting these issues. Besides, the millers are forcing farmers to bring them to the mills. We want the Odisha Government to address the mandi issues in our district,” said Deogarh District Congress President Sem Hemram.
Chaturvedi was speaking on the topic ‘Election 2024: National Opposition parties, Mudda for rural India?’ at OTV’s annual conclave ‘Foresight 2024’ held in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.
Speaking on banking and lending issues in rural India, the Shiv Sena spokesperson said, “People are forced to take loans from money lenders at a high interest rate for farming. However, climatic conditions like cyclones and droughts can create problems for their outcomes. That is one of the reasons behind the rising debts of farmers.”
As for MGNREGA wages, the Shiv Sena MP said that the wages have not changed for decades. “Rather, it has come down at many places. Another issue is that the cost of living has increased manifold both in the rural and urban areas. Food inflation has increased to an all-time high,” she said.
“The income is not increasing, but the expenses are increasing. It leads to lesser asset creation, lesser investment and lesser savings, of course. These are the issues I would like to take to the people of the country. All the Indians need to understand that suitable action has not been taken to mitigate these problems as per the guarantee given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” she added.
During the UPA rule, there was a lot of intervention to alleviate poverty. MGNREGA was the biggest intervention, Congress MP Saptagiri Ulaka said, adding that works are now being done in such a way that the land and resources are being taken away from the tribals.
“I am giving you an example. The Bharat Mala Project is passing through my constituency. Land transaction is very low in my area. A tribal can’t sell his lands. He needs to have five acres of land before he has to sell to another tribal. For one acre of land, a tribal is paid Rs 50,000. In my area, an acre of land in a non-tribal area costs Rs 1 crore. It is fine to safeguard the interests of the tribals. They won’t be landless. The government is directing the laws where projects like Bharat Mala and big industries can take over the tribal lands. Thus, we are losing our land. They are taking away our Rs 50,000 with the dilution of the laws. They are sabotaging our Constitution by suspending our MPs. There is no discussion for passing of the bills,” the Koraput MP rued.
“We (Congress) have done a lot for tribals. We have a special focus on tribals. We know what the government is doing to take away the rights of the tribals. This will be in our manifesto. We will try to explain,” he said.
Responding to a question that Shiv Sena is being perceived to be an urban-centric party while the BJP has somehow cracked the rural core, party spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi, said, “Two things- Shiv Sena is also a Hindu-centric party... I look from Ramarajya perspective. Bhagwan Ram’s temple is going to be inaugurated on January 22. Ramarajya is to remove all disparities. We will try to remove all inequalities. We try to give respect to women in society where law and order is supreme.”
She asserted, “Shiv Sena continues to believe in the Hindu way of life. It is not the Hindu political view of life. Politics as karma and politics as a dharma are two different things. We are mixing the two. Your karma can not be your political life. But your dharma has to supersede that karma. Everyone should have equal opportunities. During the Covid period, we saw no inequalities.”
Speaking on the use of social media for election campaigns, Congress MP Saptagiri Ulaka said, “Social media is an important factor in winning elections. When we say we learnt from our mistakes, we in the 2014 elections completely ignored the platform. There is also a platform for political management and booth management. WhatsApp groups are crucial. We will tick all checkboxes. We will come with a narrative and a vision for the country.”