Balasore: Will three major parties – BJD, BJP and Congress – repeat their 2019 candidates or field new faces in 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Odisha’s prestigious Balasore constituency remains a topic of discussion among the voters.
The name of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw as possible candidate of BJP from Balasore was making rounds following his repeated visits to Odisha. But the speculation was put to rest after he was elected to the Rajya Sabha.
With this, the sitting BJP MP from the north Odisha constituency, Pratap Sarangi remains a strong contender for the party ticket. With a clean and transparent image, he continues to remain popular among the voters. The bachelor leader has also been maintaining his connection at the grassroots level and serving the people due to his experience as Union minister.
In the last Lok Sabha elections, Sarangi had defeated BJD nominee Rabindra Jena by a margin of over 4 lakh votes. But another prominent figure and BJP leader from the area, Kharabela Swain also remains in the race for the ticket this time. He has been elected from the seat three times in 1998, 1999 and 2004. A strong leader and prolific speaker, his chances of replacing Sarangi cannot be rule out.
BJD’s Rabindra Jena, who had won from Balasore in 2014, was repeated in 2019. He is not only a popular personality in the area but also a winnable face for the party.
But Jena’s problem is that his wife Subasini Jena is also an aspirant for BJD ticket from Basta Assembly segment in the LS constituency. As per the party’s one family, one ticket wither Rabindra or his wife will get ticket. If the BJD selects Subasini for Basta, the Lok Sabha seat will see a new face from the party this time.
In the Congress camp, Nabajyoti Patnaik, who contested in 2019 polls, continues to be the most favoured candidate. But the last time entry of senior leader Srikant Jena into the party fold may lead to changes in the party’s gameplan. Jena was elected from Balasore in 2009 elections.
Balasore Lok Sabha seat comprises Assembly segments of Jaleswar, Bhogarai, Basta, Balasore, Remuna and Nilagiri and Mayurbhanj’s Simulia. In the last general elections, BJD had won from five segments while BJP captured 2 seats.
