Bolangir Sadar Assembly constituency is one of those seats in Odisha where a high-octane fight is on the cards. Congress leader Narasingha Mishra’s family and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Ananga Udaya Singh Deo’s family will be seen in the arena, crossing swords for the coveted seat.
This year, Narasingha’s son Samarendra Mishra and Ananga’s son Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo are locking horns on Congress and BJD tickets respectively.
The seat had been the impregnable fortress of the BJD with its leader Ananga guarding it for 25 years. But in 2014, he met his nemesis in Congress leader Narasingha Mishra. Narasingha retained the seat in 2019 as well.
While Ananga has been away from electoral politics, Narasingha has announced his retirement from electoral politics this year, paving the way for his son Samarendra Mishra.
“I am confident that Bolangir people as well as the people of Western Odisha and Odisha will bless Naveen Patnaik once more,” said Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo.
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“We will fight on our strengths. People will support us because the previous MLA did a lot of work in the constituency,” said Samarendra Mishra.
On the other hand, like the last election, the BJP has fielded Gopalji Panigrahi, a new face.
“In the past years, the constituency offered them (Congress and BJD) many opportunities. But development has not taken place here as it should have been. We will go to the people with the Garib Kalyan Yojana and I am sure people will elect us,” said Gopalji Panigrahi.
The voters of the constituency have different opinions on the poll results.
“The fact that the BJP will emerge as a big beneficiary in the fight between the Congress and BJD cannot be ruled out” said Madhusudan Nayak, secretary, the Bolangir Citizens' Committee.