After the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the dates for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, three major parties – the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Congress in Odisha have intensified their exercise to pick up right candidates, even as their top leaders are holding hectic brain-storming parleys on some survey reports and weighing various factors of the candidate selection.
Amid this, placating the disgruntled and the would-be rebels has been a cause for concern for these parties.
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.”