'Dynasty' still rules supreme in Odisha politics!

Bhubaneswar: Even as dynasty is an antithesis to democracy, tentacles of dynasty seem taking strong root in State politics. The politics of dynasty is now ruling supreme in Odisha elections 2019, and State Congress so far appears to hold the  banner of 'dynastic politics' in the State. This sounds ironical when State Congress in a meeting before the announcement of the polls had trumpeted the slogan 'One family, one ticket'.

Sample this. Senior Congressman and Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra was given party ticket from Bolangir Assembly constituency while his son Samarendra Mishra was also 'fortunate' enough to get a nomination from Bolangir Lok Sabha seat.

"I am sure that people of Odisha will vote for Congress," claimed Samarendra.

Mishra is not alone as several party veterans give a thumbs-up to the 'dynastic' politics. Senior Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das was declared Lok Sabha candidate from Kalahandi, whereas his son Sagar Das is party's face from Bhawanipatna assembly seat under Kalahandi LS.

New entrant in Congress, George Tirkey is no exception either. Tirkey is Congress nominee from Sundergarh Lok Sabha, Rohit Joseph, his son, has been fielded from Birmitrapur assembly seat, which was represented by Tirkey in the current Assembly.

No last word has been spoken on dynastic nominations in Congress. Talks are abuzz how senior leaders like Jayadev Jena, Ananta Sethi and even State President Niranjan Patnaik  are lobbying hard for their kin. Moreover, how can one forget the famous father-in-law and son-in-law  pair  of Suresh Routray and Prasad Harichandan in poll fray this elections.

However, the dynastic trademark seems not conspicuous in BJP, except BJP State Legislature Party leader KV Singhdeo and wife Sangita Singhdeo, who were BJP's nominees from Patnagarh assembly seat and Bolangir LS seat, respectively.

Though no dynastic nominations from BJD has cropped up so far, it is an open secret about how senior party leaders are leaving no stone unturned to gift a party ticket to their kin. BJD State Vice President A U Singhdeo is working hard for a ticket to son Arkesh, senior leaders like Yogendra Behera and Bijayshree Routray are also making every efforts to bag party tickets for their kin.

In contrast, elections 2019 would also witness intra-dynastic war as senior Congress leader Hemanand Biswal's two daughters are at daggers drawn in Sundergarh.

While Sunita Biswal is BJD's Lok Sabha candidate, her sister Amita is in the battle from Sundergarh assembly seat on a Congress ticket. Similarly, when Prashanta Nanda is BJD's Rajya Sabha member, his son recently joined the BJP and is set to contest from Begunia assembly seat.

"Sundergarh is a Congress bastion and my sister Sunita joining BJD will not make any difference," claimed Amita Biswal.

BJD leader Yogendra Behera justified lobbying for son Nihar. "My age is almost 80-yrs and my son Nihar is young and can work for the people in my constituency effectively," he added.

'Dynasty' still rules supreme in Odisha politics!

Bhubaneswar: Even as dynasty is an antithesis to democracy, tentacles of dynasty seem taking strong root in State politics. The politics of dynasty is now ruling supreme in Odisha elections 2019, and State Congress so far appears to hold the  banner of 'dynastic politics' in the State. This sounds ironical when State Congress in a meeting before the announcement of the polls had trumpeted the slogan 'One family, one ticket'.

Sample this. Senior Congressman and Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra was given party ticket from Bolangir Assembly constituency while his son Samarendra Mishra was also 'fortunate' enough to get a nomination from Bolangir Lok Sabha seat.

"I am sure that people of Odisha will vote for Congress," claimed Samarendra.

Mishra is not alone as several party veterans give a thumbs-up to the 'dynastic' politics. Senior Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das was declared Lok Sabha candidate from Kalahandi, whereas his son Sagar Das is party's face from Bhawanipatna assembly seat under Kalahandi LS.

New entrant in Congress, George Tirkey is no exception either. Tirkey is Congress nominee from Sundergarh Lok Sabha, Rohit Joseph, his son, has been fielded from Birmitrapur assembly seat, which was represented by Tirkey in the current Assembly.

No last word has been spoken on dynastic nominations in Congress. Talks are abuzz how senior leaders like Jayadev Jena, Ananta Sethi and even State President Niranjan Patnaik  are lobbying hard for their kin. Moreover, how can one forget the famous father-in-law and son-in-law  pair  of Suresh Routray and Prasad Harichandan in poll fray this elections.

However, the dynastic trademark seems not conspicuous in BJP, except BJP State Legislature Party leader KV Singhdeo and wife Sangita Singhdeo, who were BJP's nominees from Patnagarh assembly seat and Bolangir LS seat, respectively.

Though no dynastic nominations from BJD has cropped up so far, it is an open secret about how senior party leaders are leaving no stone unturned to gift a party ticket to their kin. BJD State Vice President A U Singhdeo is working hard for a ticket to son Arkesh, senior leaders like Yogendra Behera and Bijayshree Routray are also making every efforts to bag party tickets for their kin.

In contrast, elections 2019 would also witness intra-dynastic war as senior Congress leader Hemanand Biswal's two daughters are at daggers drawn in Sundergarh.

While Sunita Biswal is BJD's Lok Sabha candidate, her sister Amita is in the battle from Sundergarh assembly seat on a Congress ticket. Similarly, when Prashanta Nanda is BJD's Rajya Sabha member, his son recently joined the BJP and is set to contest from Begunia assembly seat.

"Sundergarh is a Congress bastion and my sister Sunita joining BJD will not make any difference," claimed Amita Biswal.

BJD leader Yogendra Behera justified lobbying for son Nihar. "My age is almost 80-yrs and my son Nihar is young and can work for the people in my constituency effectively," he added.