Elections 2024: Why Berhampur Is Key To Narendra Modi’s Odisha Plan?

Bhubaneswar: With a view to overcoming its weak spot in Odisha, the BJP seems to be focusing on southern districts in general and Berhampur in particular to make a dent in the BJD bastion in the upcoming twin elections.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address two public rallies in Berhampur and Nabarangpur parliamentary constituencies on May 6, within 8 days of BJP national president J P Nadda’s Vijay Sankalp Samavesh at Ambapua near Berhampur. In February, veteran BJP leader and Union minister Rajnath Singh had also addressed a public rally in Berhampur.

The BJP is the weakest in the south compared to north, west, central and coastal Odisha. With Pradeep Panigrahi in poll fray from Berhampur LS seat, the party is hopeful of opening its account in Ganjam district.

Pradeep, the sitting Gopalpur MLA who was earlier expelled from BJD, joined the BJP in February.

In 2019, the part had won all the five Lok Sabha seats in western (Bargarh, Sundargarh, Balangir, Sambalpur and Kalahandi), two in north (Mayurbhanj and Balasore) and one in coastal Odisha (Bhubaneswar).

Besides Berhampur LS seat, the BJP is also hoping to win a few assembly seats in Ganjam, which sends 13 MLAs to the state Assembly, the highest for any district in the state, by harping on its ‘Odia asmita’ plank and striking a chord with the people of the district who identify BJD leader and 5T chairman V K Pandian as a former collector with roots in Tamil Nadu.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is seeking re-election for the sixth term from Hinjili, also in Ganjam district. In 2019, BJD won 12 seats and Congress 1 in Ganjam district. The Conch party has also been winning the Berhampur Lok Sabha seat for the last 3 elections. BJD has also been successively triumphing in Aska parliamentary seat, the other Lok Sabha constituency in Ganjam.

According to political analysts, Modi’s visit can upset BJD calculations in its own bastion. He can also have an influence on the migrants there since Ganjam has a Gujarat (Surat) connection.

In Nabarangpur, the party’s candidate Balabhadra Majhi is a former MP and had switched allegiance from BJD to BJP prior to 2019 polls. He is pitted against BJD’s Pradeep Majhi, also a former MP who joined the regional party after leaving Congress in 2021 ahead of the panchayat elections in the state. The BJP has MLAs in only two of seven Assembly seats under this constituency.

BJP insiders  believe that if Modi can create the much-anticipated impact in Berhampur then the party can get an impetus in southern Odisha both in Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha polls. Thus could to a good extent help the saffron brigade improve its fortunes in the state. This time, it is aiming to increase it LS tally by at least by five while getting majority in the state legislature. Though its plans are ambitious considering the BJD’s strong election machinery, the saffron outfit is certainly sensing a big opportunity in the eastern state. Which is why the party’s biggies are not only paying visits to the state but playing the ‘Odia Asmita’ card to make the voters feel that they can protect the state’s interests and people’s cause.

The BJP’s calculated moves were also seen when Union Home Minister Amit Shah sounded the poll bugle for BJP in Sonepur, which is part of Balangir parliamentary constituency, on April 25. This assumed significance since Naveen is also contesting from Kanjabanji under the same LS seat.

Berhampur, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi and Koraput will be going to polls on May 13, the fourth phase nationwide and the first round of elections in Odisha. The state will also vote for 28 Assembly seats under these constituencies.