Poll fervour still missing in Ganjam

Berhampur: Poll fever is yet to grip politically-sensitive Ganjam district as the ruling BJD is yet to declare its candidates for constituencies falling in the region.

Congress released the name of only one candidate yesterday while on the same day, BJP came out with a few more nominees for Odisha.

Ganjam district has the highest number of 13 assembly and two Lok Sabha seats. The district also has the highest number of voters at 25,38,622.

In 2009 elections, BJD had won two Lok Sabha seats - Aska and Berhampur - and 11 assembly segments.

The prominent leaders who had won from the district included the Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik (Hinjili), Rural Development Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh (Bhanjanagar), Revenue minister Surya Narayan Patra (Digapahandi), Woman and Child Development minister Usha Devi (Chikiti) and veteran legislator V Sugnana Kumari Deo (Kabisurya Nagar).

Barring a few ministers, the aspirants candidates, even sitting MLAs and MPs in the ruling BJD, are not sure of getting their hands on party tickets this time. "It all depends on chief minister and party supremo Naveen Patnaik," said a sitting BJD MLA.

The regional party is likely to give ticket to new faces in at least two assembly segments this time and drop two sitting MLAs, sources said.