BJP emerged as the opposition party in the concluded Panchayat election to the ruling BJD in Odisha. But factually Congress is the main opposition party in the State Assembly. Since the Panchayat election the new PCC chief was silent and inactive. The party couldn’t revive itself from the in-fights neither able to set any challenge for the opposition. Bijepur bye-election was an opportunity to get back. The candidate was strong enough to stage a fight to the ruling parties in the centre and state. Name of Pranay Sahu was sent unanimously in October by the selection committee led by Nabakishore Das but again a committee was formed in January led by former CM Hemananda Biswal contradicting the former committee. The later committee recommended 2 names; Ripunath Seth and Pranay Sahu. The conflicting situation wasted a lot time of the party and the candidate. Finally Congress announced the name of the candidate on 4th February just 2 days left to file the nomination whereas BJD and BJP had declared their candidates much earlier.
After the demise of the Late MLA Subal Sahu, BJD and BJP immediately started organizing Bijepur constituency and prepared for the bypoll whereas the state and the Congress unit was inactive. The media created a perception of fight between BJD and BJP as Congress party was not visible in the ground and lagging behind.
When Congress declared its candidate on 4th February, the candidate was not having enough time and fund to organize. Still around 20,000 workers throughout the constituency were assembled at the time of nomination filing to support him. If name would have been declared before few months the candidate would have got time to organize but due to the lackadaisical attitude of the party, circumstances went against him and could not succeed to retain the seat.
Further, many Congress leaders were supporting BJD, BJP stagnating the campaign. In this scenario almost all Congress voters had shifted to BJD and BJP. Wind favouring the Congress candidate evaporated.
From close sources, leaders like Sri Naba Kishore Das, Sri Hemananda Biswal and Sri Ripunath Seth were completely working against the candidate and sabotage the campaign. Also the candidate did not receive the committed financial support from the state unit. They have received only 15 lakhs from the PCC for the election expenses.
Again, BJP and BJD used the government machineries and money power heftily. Hundreads of crore have been invested by both parties. They purchased each vote with up to 5000. In this scenario Congress candidate could not manage to fight with them and loosed it.
Further, there were no coordinated efforts from the party level in absence of which the candidate had to fight as an individual against two organizations. Even the in-charge of the state and his assistant were mere visitors.
Saket Sreebhushan Sahu comments on culture and politics
saket.sahu@gmail.com