Odisha Assembly Polls: Demand In BJD For New Face In Bhubaneswar Central; Know Where BJP Is Facing Candidate Crisis

Bhubaneswar: With polling dates coming closer in Odisha, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) as well as main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appear to be grappling with diverse challenges while selecting their candidates for certain Assembly constituencies.

While the Naveen Patnaik-led party seems to be facing a problem of plenty in some places, particularly Bhubaneswar Central Assembly segment, the saffron party is reported to be grappling with scarcity of nominees in a few constituencies. Finalisation of candidate for Bhubaneswar Central Assembly seat appears to have become a major headache for the ruling BJD with many aspirants demanding party ticket. Amid serious groupism and infighting, the fate of ticket aspirants is still hanging in balance.

Sitting BJD MLA from Bhubaneswar Central Ananta Narayan Jena aka Bunu is facing stiff opposition from corporator Amaresh Jena aka Baian, who wants the party to nominate him this time. Another aspirant for BJD ticket for the seat is Rudra Samantray. Opposition to Ananta has gone to such an extent that both Amareah and Rudra have joined hands in their bid to keep him out of the poll battle this time. While the two leaders are campaigning to impress upon the party to deny ticket to Ananta for the upcoming elections. Ananta has also countered the duo with a show of strength at Naveen Nawas, the residence of BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar.

It is said that Amaresh and Rudra are ready to support each other if one of them gets BJD ticket for Bhubaneswar Central assembly seat. However, if the regional party renominates Ananta, one of them may jump into the fray as independent candidate. More than 45 former corporators were reported to have pleaded in support Amaresh at Naveen Niwas. On the other hand, Shreemayee Mishra, who was hopeful of Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha ticket, is also stated to be in the race BJD ticket for the Assembly constituency.

Despite a revolt in the party against Minister Ashok Chandra Panda, the ruling BJD has repeated him from Ekamra Assembly constituency. The regional party reposed its faith in Ashok Panda even after Biranchi Narayan Mahasupakar declared an open war against the senior leader. All eyes are now set on Bhubaneswar Central to see who is chosen by the regional outfit.

Ever since the Assembly constituency came into existence in 2009, it has remained a BJD stronghold. However, despite BJD’s victory in successive elections, BJP has been increasing its vote share in the constituency, while Congress vote percentage has been dwindling. BJP has its corporators in three of the 19 wards under the Assembly constituency. The saffron party has fielded firebrand leader Jagannath Pradhan, who has already launched his campaign in the constituency.

Coming to BJP’s woes, the saffron party seems to be grappling with scarcity of candidates in nine of the 28 segments under four parliamentary constituencies which are set to go to polls in the first phase on May 13. BJP has already announced 112 candidates for the Assembly elections.
The party has named candidates for three segments each under Koraput and Nabarangpur Lok Sabha constituencies.

Attributing the delay in selection of candidates to lack of credible faces in the two tribal-dominated parliamentary constituencies covering three districts where the ruling BJD is the dominant force, sources in BJP said the leadership is still doing the mathematics of permutation and combination to pick the right candidates.