Political flaps and campaigns in Rayagada: Multiple nominations by 33 candidates

Badal Tah,Odishabarta,Rayagada, April 29: Though 62 nominations have been filed from three constituencies namely Rayagada, Gunupur and Bissam Cuttack, there are actually 32 candidates in the fray. Out of 22 nos of nominations in Rayagada constituency, 11 candidates will face the public while the number is 8 out of 19 for Bissam Cuttack & 14 out of 21 for Gunupur. There are 21 candidates representing different political parties whereas 13 independent candidates are supposed to contest the election provided none withdraws. During scrutiny, though there was objections by the Congress party regarding violations in affidavits by Jagannath Saraka, BJD candidate from Bissam Cuttack, not a single nomination was rejected. Interestingly there were two nominations one each by Basanta Ulaka & Siba Sankar Ullaka representing BJP in Rayagada constituency. As Sibasankar could not produce BJP ticket, his nomination as an independent candidate stood valid. There are only six candidates(18%) in all the three constituencies: one in Bissam Cuttack, two in Gunupur and three in Rayagada.

Out of 11 candidates from Rayagada constituency, which consists of Rayagada block, Kashipur Block and Rayagada Municipality, Basanta Ullaka from BJP, Anusuya Majhi from BJD, Appalaswamy Kadraka from Congress, Purna Chandra Majhi from BSP are prominent candidates. Krishna Palaka from CPI(ML) Liberation, Kandagari Sinalu from Naba Bharat Nirman Seva Party, Banamali Majhi from Ambedkarite Party of India have filed their nominations. There are three independent candidates. Bhagaban Majhi, who has filed his nomination from Kashipur, is a prominent leader of Prakrutika Sampad Surakhya Parisha(PSSP), an anti-mining outfit. Suchitra Majhi, also an independent nominee from Kashipur, came with around three thousand supporters, who are resisting bauxite mining in Sijimali, Kutrumali, Basangmali in Kashipur. Balnamali Majhi from Kashipur has some pocket votes only in Kashipur. Saroj Nayak, a vibrant BSP youth leader of Kashipur was instrumental in mobilising a sizable votes for BSP; but this time he himself is contesting from Jeypore constituency. The Jhodias in Kashipur always play a pivotal role in electoral politics in the context of their long standing demand to include their community in ST list. Makaranda Muduli, who won as an independent candidate in 2019 and then extended his support to ruling BJD, was not given ticket from BJD as per his expectation. Though he is still seen in election meetings held by BJD, he & his supporters are not that active. “Kashipur voters are always the deciding factors in the election process. But this time votes may not consolidate as there are several cleavages in Kashipur block. There is intra-party conflict by two factions of BJD in Rayagada- one led by BJD dist president Bhaskar Rao and the other is led by Konda babu, who has been recently dismissed for anti-party activities. This may act as a boomerang for the party.Veteran tribal leader Lal Bihar Himirika, Ex-Minister & Gangadhar Puala, Ex-ZP President, who are in Bhakar’s camp, were expecting party tickets. Though there are steps taken to reconcile the dissatisfaction, it may affect BJD’s winning prospects. Appalaswamy of Congress and Basanta from BJP, who seem to be friends & have least conspicuous resistance from within & without, should strive hard to take advantage of the situation”, said local political analyst Bijaya Mishra.

It will not be easy going for BJD candidate from Bissam Cuttack constituency Jagannath Saraka, in the context of his opposition from BJP named Jagannath Nundruka, ex-colleague of Saraka. He is a soft spoken grassroot leader of Muniguda block. He will give a tough fight to be witnessed as Jagannath vs Jagannath. Nilamadhab Hikaka from Congress is vehemently opposed by Nilamadhab Ullaka, son of Ex-Minister Dambarudhar Ullaka. According to Nilamadhab Ullaka and his supporters, Congress in Puri meet almost finalised his name as candidate from this constituency; but MP Saptagiri Ullaka in connivance with state & central Congress leaders ditched him at the last moment. Ullaka fumes in anger and blame saptagiri of having a huge financial deal with Nilamadhab Hikaka. So it will be exhibiting Nilamadhab vs Nilamadhab. The kingmaker BJD leader Sudhir Das was catapulted by N Bhaskar Rao recently when Rao was successful in ousting Sudhir from District President BJD & Rao himself grabbing the said post. Rao is not very active in Bissam-Cuttack constituency. “Congress votes will be divided. Praska Rama Chandra from CPI(ML) will have some pocket votes. Jeetendra Jakaka aka Jitu from BSP is from Dangaria Kandha Community and an established tribal leader. He will garner sizable votes. Nundruka’s wife is the sitting block chairperson of Muniguda block. So, there will be a stern neck to neck fight between Saraka & Nundruka”, said Satya Pratika, a tribal leader from Chandrapur.

Gunupur constituency has the highest number of fourteen candidates including seven independents, who have filed nominations. There is faction in Congress. Abinash Gomango, son of District Congress President Bijaya Gomango, who filed his nomination as an independent candidate, said that he won as District Youth Congress President by deafening Satyajit. But the reason of allotting a ticket to Satyajit is best known to the MP Saptagiri and the Congress party. Similarly Bhaskar Jagaranga, who was expecting a ticket from Congress, has filed nomination as independent. Though there will be division of votes in Congress, the veteran leader and presently Vice-Chairperson Gunupur Municipality Siba Gouda is campaigning for the Congress candidate. Tripati Gomango from CPI(ML) Liberation has not filed any nomination and may support Cogress as a part of INDIA Block. Siba Gouda and N Bhaskar Rao are known friends and Siba Gouda & Sudhir Das are known foes for obvious reasons. On the order of party high command, both Rao and Sudhir have patched up & are campaigning for the BJD candidate Raghunath Gomango. BJP candidate Trinath Gomango, who was once MLA from BJD, has no opposition from within the party as the party has a very weak base in Gunupur. Two senior scribes of Rayagada named Pramod Sahu and Shibaji Das have taken responsibility to strengthen the BJP base and it is expected that they will succeed in garnering votes in this constituency.