Bhubaneswar: Family rocks in politics. But Elections 2019 canvas in Odisha shows how politics has rocked the families of political leaders instead.
Many political families are split wide open. Though it is widely known that politics divide family for sake of principles, the unusual rush in Odisha during election season alludes how families here get divided for 'power politics'. Because, migration is at its peak in 'election season' and power seems alluring for political minds.
Sample the contrast. True to the saying by American author Dan Brown that never underestimate the ego of a politician; the hurt ego of veteran leader Damodar Rout flamed to an act of revenge against BJD; and Dama joined BJP to make the BJD bite the dust. On the other hand, his son Sambit Routray was made BJD State Secretary and candidate from Paradip Assembly seat, which Dama is representing in current Legislative Assembly. Rout is contesting 2019 elections from neighbouring Balikuda- Erasama Assembly.
However, a shrewd politician he is, Rout sees it as a conspiracy by BJD to nail him. Dama said he will not campaign in Paradip. Voters of Paradip are wise enough to know the politics behind this move.
But son Sambit has a different take. He sees no split in relationship. "The feeling of being hurt deliberately made my father join BJP. I was in BJD and I love Naveen Patnaik," he observed.
Dama is not the single instance of family split wide-open. Ollywood yesteryear star Prashanta Nanda is BJD Rajya Sabha MP, spokesperson and star campaigner for the party. But his son Rishabh Nanda recently joined the saffron bandwagon and BJP has given him ticket from Begunia Assembly seat.
Rishav, however, justified his joining BJP and said I am an independent person and can take my own decision. He added that in Begunia Assembly seat, we are rivals.
Senior Congress leader and former CM Hemananda BIswal seems to be torn apart between two daughters. While his elder daughter Sunita switched over to BJD recently to fight from Sundergarh Lok Sabha seat, younger daughter Amita will fight on Congress party ticket from Sundergarh Assembly constituency.
"Sunita didn't consult me before joining BJD. I will definitely campaign against BJD in the upcoming polls," asserted Biswal.
In Bolangir, the royal fight is between sister-in-law and brother-in-law. While brother-in-law Kalikesh is contesting on BJD ticket from Bolangir, sister-in-law Sangeeta Singh Deo is BJP candidate for the seat.