The Barchana Assembly constituency, one of the important seats in Jajpur, is going to polls on June 1 in the last phase. It is going to be a tough contest among the BJD, the BJP and the Congress over a host of issues like corruption, unemployment and lack of irrigation, affecting people.
OTV tried to gauge the mood of the people at different places in the constituency before the polls.
Multiple issues
At Chhatia, a local resident said the fight will be mainly between the BJP and BJD.
A farmer selling vegetables on the roadside expressed his frustration over the performance of leaders in the past. ”Leaders come with loads of promises, but nothing happens later. There is no facility for irrigation. The government should have done lift irrigation points.”
Another local resident pointed out corruption and unemployment as the major issue, “The leaders pay us peanuts during elections. After elections, they rake in the moolah. How will the country be managed? Scores of highly educated youths are now jobless while many are doing odd jobs like us.”
He also pointed out, “Had there been some industrial units, local youths would be getting job scope.”
Many voters having a trust deficit on leaders observed that their problems will never be sorted out.
Our team talked to BJD candidate Amar Nayak, who said, ”I am not new to the people of Barchana. I have been in touch with people all through the year while sharing with their weal and woes.”
He added, ”Our top most leader is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. People have trust in his leadership. And hard work has its own value. The people of Barchana will prove it this time.”
In an indirect attack on his rival and BJD candidate Varsha Priyadarshini, he said, ”People will not accept the leader from anywhere if thrust on them. The issue here is ‘mati banam party’ (nativity vs party). The issue has reached all households.”
On the other hand, BJD candidate actress Varsha Priyadarshini observed, ”The dreams of people in Barchana are my dreams. We will together realise the dreams. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is with us. Nothing is impossible and the development will be carried forward.”
She added, "I get a lot of affection from them. I am grateful to them.”
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Congress candidate Ajay Samal said, ”During the Congress tenures, farmers were being supplied water through lift irrigation in many panchayats. Now, there is no drinking water in 43 panchayats. If Congress is voted to power, defunct lift irrigation points will be reactivated.”