Raj Kishore Behera, who had earlier contested on Congress ticket from Tirtol Assembly constituency, recently joined the BJP. Ramakant Bhoi, the BJP candidate from the constituency in 2019, has also quit the party.
While some leaders from the constituency have also joined the BJD, the BJP recently organised a Mishrana Parva in Tirtol where several persons from different political parties joined the saffron party.
In a massive jolt to the BJD today, Balasore Sadar block chairman, Narayan Pradhan and 18 Samiti members quit the party to join the BJP.
In Balasore, the BJD organised a similar Mishrana Parva in presence of some of its senior leaders where former MLA of the constituency, Arun Dey along with his followers joined the ruling party.
Joining of Dey and his followers has strengthened the party in Balasore, said BJD MLA and Minister Pratap Jena while speaking to the media on the sideline of its Mishrana Parva.
The bypolls have once again heated up Odisha politics. Heavyweight leaders of the BJP, BJD and Congress as well, have began their 'show of strength' to woo voters.
BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi said, "I was continuously in touch with people during my stay at Delhi. I am sure we will win the Tirtol Assembly seat."
"We are fully prepared for the bypoll," said Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president, Niranjan Patnaik.
However, all the three parties are yet to announce their candidates for the bypoll.
While the BJP and the Congress are focusing on door-to-door campaigning, the BJD is carrying out its 'Mishrana Parba' and conducting public meetings at villages. Besides, senior BJD leaders have reportedly camped in the Assembly constituencies to campaign for their candidates.
Manas Dutta, BJP's MLA candidate from Balasore Sadar constituency and son of late MLA of the constituency Madan Mohan Dutta, is aggressively campaigning in the region. He has been targeting the ruling-BJD for allegedly neglecting Balasore in over 20 years' rule.
"Almost 15 years back, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had laid the foundation stone for a bus stand here, but the project is yet to be materialised... What short of development can they do when hundreds of crores of rupees have been misused in the name of development," alleged BJP MP and Union Minister, Pratap Sarangi.
Similarly, Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati said, "Both the BJP and the BJD are responsible for the shutting down of many industries in Balasore. Our fight is against misgovernance and corruption."
Presenting BJD's point of view, party MLA and Minister Pratap Jena said, "We always believe in inclusive development and give optimum facilities to people. We are fighting the bypoll on these issues."
On the other hand, the BJP has approached the Chief Electoral Officer alleging violation of COVID19 norms by the BJD MLAs, Ministers and leaders during campaigning in the constituencies. The BJP has also alleged that the BJD is involved in influencing voters by distributing money.
“On the 15th, over 500 BJD members including MP Rajashree Mallick, MLA Debasish Samantaray and State minister Pratap Jena were inside a hall, violating Covid guidelines. There has been a clear violation of election code of conduct,” alleged party’s State General Secretary, Lekhashree Samantsinghar.
BJD, BJP and Congress candidates for Balasore Sadar seat are leaving no stone unturned and are engaged in a fierce campaign. Star campaigners of all the three parties are reaching out to people with their own agendas and are seen taking swipes at each other.
During campaigning for his party candidate, State BJP unit president, Samir Mohanty today alleged that the BJD always misuses administration during elections and it can go to any extent like resorting to unfair means to win votes.
"People of Balasore are well aware of the domineering attitude and misuse of the local administration by the BJD to win a seat. And that's the reason they had voted the BJP to power in the Assembly constituency in 2019 general elections," said Mohanty.
"We are reaching out to people for their blessings as my father had initiated several developmental projects and we need their support once again to complete those works," said Manas Dutta, the BJP candidate for the seat and son of the late MLA, Madan Mohan Dutta, whose death necessitated the bypoll.
BJD has named Swarup Kumar Das and Congress has fielded Mamata Kundu as their candidate for the Balasore Sadar seat which fell vacant following the death of Madan Mohan Dutta in June.
The byelection to the constituency is scheduled to be held on November 3.
During a virtual rally from the party headquarters here, Pradhan alleged that the state government only makes promises prior to the elections but has failed to fulfill any of them. "So far three by-elections have gone by but no promises have been fulfilled. All assurances the government has made was limited to poll gimmick and vanished post the elections,” he said.
Stating that negligence in healthcare services in Odisha has reached limits, Pradhan reiterated that the Centre's Ayushman Bharat scheme should be implemented in Odisha in the interest of the people. "The Centre has extended all possible help to the State in its fight against the pandemic and during other disasters. The Centre released Rs 22000 crore for fighting Covid battle but look at the grave situation in the capital city. When the state was battered by cyclone Amphan, PM Modi immediately announced Rs 500 crore for relief, rehabilitation and restoration work. This apart, many beneficial measures were taken for the migrants. Whatever funds are being released by Centre to the State, it is being siphoned off, either for corrupt practices or because the government has no idea how to utilise it for the people,” said Pradhan, further accusing the BJD government of being insensitive towards the people.
I urge the citizens of Odisha to realise the faults of the government and vote in favour of the BJP during the upcoming by-polls, he said.
Pradhan also questioned the government over chit fund and mining scams, and river embankment corruption in Jajpur. “The government has betrayed the people of Odisha through false promises; people will answer them in these elections.”
The country cannot be called fully-developed unless there is development in the eastern region; and PM Modi has pledged to transform all States to make India a much better place, Pradhan said.
The Union Minister is also scheduled to address three public meetings in Balasore Sadar constituency tomorrow.
Problems of these people have been ignored all these years and they are allegedly deprived of basic facilities, which has now forced them to come up with the decision to boycott elections as a last resort.
Reportedly for the last three decades, people here have been demanding repair and renovation of roads along the river bank which connect the villages.
"Farmers have been facing numerous problems. We have been demanding construction of a sluice gate in Hansua channel and repair the damaged gates so that excess water being released doesn't accumulate in the paddy fields," stated a villager.
"Where children could have reached their school located some 100-200 mt away in minutes, they are travelling 3 km as the demand of a bridge to shorten the route has fallen on deaf ears. Problems are aplenty, but our prime demand is the construction of motorable roads," said another.
Allegedly protesting lack of infrastructure development in their area, the locals held a protest rally and marched through all the villages in Gopalpur, Biritola, Katara panchayats pressing for their demands.
https://youtu.be/hd3QQ0JCIy4
State BJP general secretary Golak Mohapatra alleged that there has been no sign of development in Balasore under the Naveen government for the last 20 years. He said, "A couple of days ago, Odisha CM said that he would take the responsibility of Balasore Assembly constituency. As the CM of the State, the development of Balasore was his responsibility. Does the CM need sacrifice of an MLA to take responsibility?"
For the last 20 years, the responsibility of Balasore had been with the ruling-BJD, but there is no employment opportunity, no teachers in schools and no doctors in hospitals, he said adding, "The BJD is trying to win votes by telling lies; we strongly condemn such acts."
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Odisha Congress chief Niranjan Patnaik also came down heavily on the BJD supremo and questioned as to whose responsibility was the development of Balasore and Tirtol's constituencies in the last two decades. "If CM Naveen has now taken the responsibility of both the constituencies, under whose responsibility do the remaining 145 constituencies come? The CM had earlier made such statements during Bijepur bypoll. People of Bijepur can tell if the CM has kept his promises."
Patnaik also asked CM Naveen the reason behind addressing gatherings of hundreds of people virtually by staying safe at home while putting life of others at stake during this COVID-19 pandemic situation.
The list of fake assurances BJP & BJD have given to people of #Odisha is unending. CM Naveen said in his virtual rally that it is his party's responsibility to ensure development of Balasore & Tirtol. Was it not under his control for the last 21 yrs? - OPCC chief Niranjan Patnaik pic.twitter.com/7RUWodKqSt
— OTV (@otvnews) October 31, 2020
On the other hand, BJP national vice-president Baijayant Panda along with Union Minister Pratap Sarangi today campaigned for party candidate Manas Dutta. Similarly, Congress' Pradeep Maji and Tara Bahinipati also addressed several public gatherings seeking vote for party candidate Mamata Kundu.
On BJD's 'defunct transformer' jibe at late Balasore MLA Madan Mohan Dutta, Panda said, "I strongly condemned the use of such words and language. Odisha has no such tradition of using words like that in public life and in politics."
PCC working committee chief Pradeep Majhi said that the Congress want to bring a change in Balasore and that's why the party has fielded a woman candidate from the Assembly constituency.
Amid the speculations of infighting within the BJD, party's Balasore district chief Rabindra Jena said, "Those rumours are baseless. Pratap Jena is the observer for this Assembly seat and it's my duty to work together. We are working as a team."
Speaking on the infighting issue, BJD MLA Pratap Jena also said that all there is no differences among any senior party leaders or workers, and all are working in tandem.
https://youtu.be/z7yFX_2dGhc
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Polling in the Assembly segments was held till 6 pm amidst tight security and strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocols in place. The overall voter turnout for the by-elections stood over 70 per cent. Balasore Sadar recorded 70.69% voter turnout while Tirtol Assembly constituency saw a voter turnout of 69.66%, informed Sushil Kumar Lohani, the Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha.
The postal ballot count in Tirtol and Balasore stood at 3193 and 1631, respectively. As many as 104 Covid positive patients in Tirtol and 6 infected persons in Balasore also exercised their franchise.
Except in two or three places, no violence or law and order situation was reported in the constituencies. After the end of polling, the polling officials collected the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPATs) from all the booths and deposited them at the strong room.
Odisha DGP Abhay informed that by-poll to the Balasore Sadar and Tirtol assembly constituency was peaceful. "I thank the residents of the area for their cooperation. I convey my appreciation for the good work done by deployed police personnel. They were ably led by respective SsP and Range DIG/IG," the DGP said.
As per the notification issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI), counting of the votes will take place on November 10 and the poll process shall be completed by 12th of this month.
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