With the Dhamnagar bypoll inching closer, the campaigning by the major political parties along with independent leader Rajendra Das to woo voters in their favour, has gained steam.
The ruling BJD, Opposition BJP and Congress and independent candidate Das have come up with unique strategies to fetch maximum votes in favour of them in the poll scheduled for November 3.
The Naveen Patnaik-led BJD has landed in the political battle ground with strategies to give a check to Rajendra Das, bag Congress votes in its favour, taking help of Self Help Group (SHG) members and get benefits of voters belonging to minority community.
Similarly, the saffron party will bank on emotional voting, Jajpur-Badhrak feelings, and try to bag maximum votes of youth and women in the Assembly constituency.
Meanwhile, BJD has brought serious allegation accusing BJP of funding Das in the elections.
“Though he (Rajendra Das) is contesting as an independent candidate, BJP is actually funding him. The voters have realised that voting Das is equal to voting for BJP,” alleged BJD MLA Byomkesh Ray.
Reacting on the allegations, BJP’s Manmohan Samal said, “The ruling BJD is just trying to divert the attention of voters by levelling false allegations.”
Commenting on the BJD’s allegation Das said, “I am getting the support of youth, farmers without any funding. I will try to safeguard the interests of Dhamnagar.”
Amid the tussle between BJD, BJP and Das, Congress has urged its party workers to fight the electoral battle with unity.
“There is no sign of democratic governance. All our party workers are excited and we will give a strong fight to BJD,” said Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Sarat Pattanayak.
(Reported by Partha Sarathi Nayak, Rashmi Ranjan Das and Harihar Chand)