The by-poll bound Bijepur constituency is getting warm day-by-day. BJD has already declared its candidate as Ritarani Sahu and BJP is projecting discarded former MLA from BJD Ashok Panigrahi. Folks are waiting for the press meet of PCC. Most probably PCC will declare the name of its candidate on 26th after collecting report from the ground on 25th.
Though names have not been declared from BJP and Congress but campaigning from all party have started for the by-poll. The situation so far is positive for BJD and Congress but BJP camp is down with conflicts. Strong protest was staged on the joining of Panigrahi in BJP by party’s senior members.
There is discontent amongst the workers in the constituency in BJP after the joining of former discarded MLA from BJD, Ashok Panigrahi. The workers have now distracted and opting for other options as they have not accepted someone like Panigrahi as their candidate and BJP has loosed almost 35000 to 40000 votes till now. As per the sources when Panigrahi was the standing MLA from BJD in 2000-2004, he had exhibited colonial behaviours with the local people. And many say he loosed the next election due to his bad behaviours though he was the candidate of BJP-BJD alliance in 2004.
Another upsurge which is going against Panigrahi and BJP is the upsurge of Kuilta caste. Kuilta caste holds the majority with a 52% population while ST and SC are 35%, General 5% and Other OBC 8%. Now BJP is in back foot, the Hindutwa agenda of the saffron party is non functional here. No influential Kuilta leader is with BJP.
Further, sources say, a group of high level delegation met and approached the influential BJD leader of Kuilta caste of Bijepur to join BJP but he denied instantly. He said, “When we were in BJP in 2004 and Panigrahi was in BJD, the former MLA used to see us in an inferior eye and literarily spit on us. So, it is not possible to support such a person on any ground.”
The media hype projecting Ashok Panigrahi as the hero with a pocket vote of 18000 now costing badly to BJP. Discussions are also on about the candidature of Ashok that he has been finalized from Delhi with a lobby by BJD MP Baijayanta Panda who is likely to join BJP. Baijayanta is eyeing for Bargarh parliament seat. Sources added, Baijayanta is going to join with few MLAs and MPs and he may fund the party in next general election that’s why BJP’s higher level authority is silent on Ashok and trying to douse the anguish of the grass root workers.
Saket Sreebhushan Sahu comments on politics and culture.