Dhenkanal Poll Poser: Dharmendra Or Mridula Or Both?

Bhubaneswar: Mridula Pradhan seems to have started doing groundwork for husband and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in Odisha with an eye on the 2024 elections.

Speculation is rife that Dharmendra would contest from either the Dhenkanal Lok Sabha seat, which comprises Dhenkanal and Angul districts, or the Sambalpur LS constituency. He is a native of Talcher in Angul and had a few weeks ago said he would contest the next elections from Odisha. While Dhenkanal seems to be his first choice, he might consider Sambalpur (currently represented by BJP’s Nitesh Gangadev) as an option if he feels that it is ‘safer’ than the Dhenkanal LS.

Dharmendra was Deogarh MP from 2004 to 2009. Currently, he is a Rajya Sabha member from Madhya Pradesh.

According to sources, Mridula has been touring different blocks and panchayats in Angul and Dhenkanal for the past several months and managing the organisation for her husband. She attended some events organised on the occasion of Rama Navami recently. She has been conducting social activities, health camps, door-to-door visits in an attempt to reach out to the people and is also participating in different Mahila Samavesh (women conclaves) in these districts. She is also seen clicking selfies with local residents while visiting them.

BJP circles are also discussing the possibility of Mridula, who is a social worker and chairperson of Vikas Foundation Trust based out of Talcher, entering the fray from one of the Assembly seats in Dhenkanal LS constituency.

Anticipating that Dharmendra would contest LS polls, BJD president and Chief minister Naveen Patnaik has already deployed his top lieutenant in these districts. Pranab Prakash Das, who is BJD general secretary (organisation), has been assigned the task to strengthen BJD in Angul and Dhenkanal. Considered a key person in BJD with experience of managing the party organisation, he will also handle party organisation as district observer of Sambalpur.

Known to be a “good organiser” and a “go-getter”, Pranab Prakash aka Bobby Das has proved his mettle in several elections in the past.

The ruling party won the Dhenkanal Lok Sabha seat and all seven Assembly segments after overcoming a tough fight from BJP candidates. However, infighting has weakened the party’s organisation in Dhenkanal and Angul districts.

The BJP has a strong base in Sambalpur having won the Sambalpur parliamentary seat and three of the Assembly segments of Sambalpur, Rengali, and Deogarh. The remaining four Assembly segments went to the BJD.