Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s Kalahandi Lok Sabha constituency is bracing up to again witness a battle between royalty and commoner in 2024 elections.
The BJP has fielded Malvika Keshari Deo, wife of the scion of the erstwhile Kalahandi royal family and former Kalahandi MP Arka Keshari Deo, easing out incumbent Basanta Panda. Though new to the electoral battle, she has seen politics from close quarters.
The BJD, which went for members of the royal family in the last two elections, has played the Yadav card by fielding Lambodar Nial from the seat this time. He is from Yadav caste, which has a significant presence in Kalahandi Lok Sabha constituency. Nial unsuccessfully contested from Khariar assembly seat, which falls under this constituency, in 2019 and 2014.
While Congress is yet to announce its candidate for Kalahandi, speculation is rife that it may field a tribal woman from the seat. Senior leader Das, who tasted defeat in the last two election, is reportedly knee to contest from Narla assembly seat in 2024 elections.
The BJP has a good organisation at the grassroots at Kalahandi, which was once its bastion with Bikram Kesari Deo, Arka’s father, winning from the constituency in 1998, 1999 and 2004. While Congress’ Bhakta Charan Das wrested the seat in 2009, Arka, who joined BJD in 2013 after the death of his father, won from the constituency in 2014. Kalahandi was back with BJP in 2019 as Basanta Panda defeated former Minister and BJD candidate Pushpendra Singhdeo, who belong to Jayapatna royal family, by 26,813 votes.
Arka returned to BJP in 2023 after staying away from the saffron camp for about 10 years. He had resigned from the ruling BJD in 2019 after it fielded Pushpendra Singhdeo from the seat.
Malvika would seek to retain the seat for BJP by seeking votes on “Modi guarantees” which is central to the party’s welfare narrative.
Kalahandi Lok Sabha constituency consists of Nuapada, Khariar, Lanjigarh, Junagarh, Dharmgarh, Bhawanipatna and Narla assembly seats. Of these, BJD, however, has MLAs in 5 seats, and BJP and Congress in one each.
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