From 22-Yr-Old To 61-Yr-Old, Six Candidates With Diverse Experience Battle For Berhampur Mayor Post

Berhampur: The denizens of Berhampur will be directly electing their Mayor, for the first time, when polls to 106 urban local bodies and three municipal corporations in Odisha are held on March 24. This post is reserved for woman and with Congress announcing its nominee on Monday, Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) is set for a tough fight with six candidates in the fray.

There are 42 wards and 250 booths in BeMC, which will see a keen contest between BJD, BJP and Congress with all these parties having fielded candidates with good academic backgrounds.

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Sanghamitra Dalei (BJD): BJD women wing president in Ganjam district is the BJD’s candidate for the Mayor post. The 52-year-old lawyer-turned-politician had joined BJD in 2013 after quitting Congress and has a good presence at the grassroots, having served as a corporator in BeMC thrice, twice on Congress ticket.

She told mediapersons that she will take forward the good work and standards set by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. “We have already achieved success in road communication, water supply, sanitation and housing. Our priority would be to gain the confidence of the public,” she said, adding that the CM has kept all the promises made to the people by initiating several schemes.

A resident of Bada Sahi in Bijipur, Sanghamitra did her schooling at Unit IV Girls High School and graduated from RD Women’s Autonomous College,  both in Bhubaneswar. She completed LLB from Ganjam Law College, Berhampur, and settled in the Silk City after getting married to firebrand political leader of Ganjam, Bhimsen Dalei, on May 20, 1997. She also did a Diploma in Human Rights and Duties from Berhampur University.

“If given an opportunity, I will work for further development of the city with a focus on resolving issues affecting the local people,” she added.

Sabita Suar Panigrahi (BJP): The BJP is hoping to make inroads into the BJD bastion with an academic, who served as the principal of Gayatri College for 20 years. Sabita did her M Sc from Binayak Mission University, Tamil Nadu and MA and PhD in Linguistic from Berhampur University.

She did her schooling at Lalbahadur Shastri High School and Plus II science at Indira Memorial College, both in Chandiput in Gajapati district. She completed from graduation from Khemundi College, Digapahandi.

She is also the wife of BJP leader Uttam Panigrahi, who had unsuccessfully contested from Digapahandi Assembly constituency in 2019.

A resident of Indira Nagar IInd Lane Industrial Estate Ankuli in Berhampur, Sabita said that her priorities would be to provide basic amenities to the people of Berhampur. The 43-year-old stressed the need to streamline health, drainage system and water supply in the city.

A staunch follower of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, she thanked the party for reposing faith in her. “The city residents are well educated and they are aware of the failure of the present regime. So, I am confident of their support,” she said.

Manju Rath (Congress):  The Congress sprang a surprise by naming the wife of veteran journalist Rabi Rath as its Mayor candidate.

The 61-year-old completed her MSc in Zoology from Berhampur University and had been involved in social activities for the last two decades. She was associated with several women organisations, including ‘Bhagabat Charitable Trust’ and ‘Srutai’, and was a former member of governing body of Mahamayee Women’s College.

Manju did her schooling at Zilla Parishad Govt High School Sompeta in Andhra Pradesh and BSc from Maharaja Vijayanagram Women’s College in Andhra University.

If elected, she promised to take up developmental works in Berhampur and streamline of drainage, roads and water supply system.

C Priyanka (Aam Admi Party): A student of MBA in Khallikote Autonomous College here, the 22-year-old is the daughter of Treasurer AAP Ganjam district unit, C Harprasad.

 She did schooling at K C Public School Berhampur and graduated from Khallikote Autonomous College.

Priyanka intends to weed out corruption from BeMC if elected as the Mayor. “I would reduce the holding tax in Berhampur which has almost been doubled in the recent past. I would also open ‘Mahala Clinic’ in each of the 42 wards and develop all the health centres under BeMC,” she said.

Her other priorities include providing basic amenities to all denizens, development of all the schools under the BeMC and streamlining of the drainage and water supply, she said.

Sunita Panigrahy (SUCI-C): The 50-year-old is a resident of Kesab Nagar in Lanjipalli area and has been involved in organisational work of SUCI for the last five years. The SUCI has reposed faith in her for his organisational ability.

She did her schooling at Mother Sarojini Girls High School Ankuli.

Sunita said that she would focus on slum dwellers and streamline health, drainage and road.

Neeta Kumari Panda (Independent): The 29-years-old entered the political fray with an aim to serve the people. She did her schooling at Giri Road Girls High School and Plus II Arts from Mahamayee College, Berhampur. She completed her graduation and postgraduation in Economics from Berhampur University through correspondence.

Besides health, water supply, drainage system, she would push for an airport in Berhampur.