BJD, BJP gear up for high profile Patkura battle

Kendrapara: With BJP veteran Bijoy Mohapatra in the fray from Patkura, another high-voltage election is in the offing in Kendrapara.

It looks to be a prestige battle for both BJD and BJP, which is evident from CM Naveen Patnaik's visit to the famous Baladevjew temple in Kendrapara tomorrow on the occasion of Snana Purnima.

While the ruling BJD is putting everything in its command to make its bete noire bite the dust at the hustings, BJP veteran Bijoy Mohapatra has started a massive voter outreach in Patkura Assembly constituency to put paid to the plans of BJD.

Significantly, the poll dates for Patkura Assembly Constituency are yet to be announced. But the ruling BJD is not taking any chances, and BJP is also working doubly hard to make lotus bloom in Patkura this time. The giant killer of BJP, Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, is doing a door-to-door campaigning for the Party in Patkura. On the other hand, senior BJD leader from Kendrapara and Mahakalpara MLA Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak and BJD strongman and Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain are camping in Patkura.

Since the year 2000, BJD has employed every trick in the poll book to stop Bijoy from entering the State Assembly. However, Bijoy seems confident of his win this time as he said "I have complete faith on Patkura voters." Mohapatra termed the pitting of ailing Bed Agarwalla in Patkura a conspiracy by BJD. The Patkura election was countermanded post the death of BJD candidate Bed Agarwala. BJD has made Agarwalla's widow Sabitri, party's nominee for the Patkura polls.

In this high profile battle, the Congress Party didn't want to see it remain behind. The party with all its strength at command is readying up for the battle.