Odisha Elections 2024: Will Sambit Patra’s Gaffe Hurt His Poll Prospects In Puri?

Puri: Will “Lord Jagannath is (PM) Modi’s bhakt” gaffe prove to be an albatross around BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra’s neck and hurt BJP prospects in Puri Parliamentary constituency?

The BJP MP candidate was widely perceived to have an edge in the contest and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s blistering attack on the BJD government over the missing keys of Ratna Bhandar of Shree Jagannath Temple following a grand roadshow on Badadanda (Grand Road) in Puri had almost pushed him to the finishing line till the ‘inadvertent’ slip of tongue cost him considerable goodwill.

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik immediately latched on to the issue and condemned Patra for insulting Lord Jagannath, turning the tables on BJP and forcing Patra to announce a three-day fast to atone for his sin. He followed it up with an unconditional apology in a full-page newspaper advertisement on May 22.

How will the voters, visibly upset with Patra’s remark, react to these developments? Who will win this battle?

Patra is pitted against BJD’s Arup Patnaik and Jay Narayan Patnaik of Congress in Puri LS seat, which will go to polls on May 25.

Modi Magic In Puri!
Modi, in his third visit to Odisha in the last fortnight to brighten BJP’s electoral prospects, embarked on a roadshow in the pilgrim town of Puri after offering prayers at Shree Jagannath Temple on May 20. He led the roadshow waving to the crowd with the lotus symbol in hand in the company of Patra, state party president Manmohan Samal and Puri MLA nominee Jayanta Sarangi even as the party showcased the culture and tradition of Odisha through Gotipua and Odissi performances all along the entire stretch from Marchikot Square to Medical Square.

The PM, who has been vocal against the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government on Ratna Bhandar (treasury) issue, also enquired about the controversial matter from servitors and assured them that the mystery surrounding its missing keys would be resolved once the BJP forms a government in Odisha.

Besides Modi, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Hema Malini also campaigned for the party candidates in Brahmagiri under Krushna Prasad block and Pipili under Puri Parliamentary constituency, respectively. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also addressed a public meeting at Banapur under Chilika Assembly segment of the Puri LS seat and pushed for a double-engine government of BJP in Odisha to ensure ‘bulldozer action against land, sand and forest mafia’.

Will BJD Be Able To Defend Its Fort?
BJD is strategising and campaigning vigorously to defend its fort through Arup Patnaik, the former Mumbai police commissioner, while playing up the temple transformation card to the hilt.

The regional party has been winning the Puri Lok Sabha seat consecutively since 1998.

BJD star campaigner V K Pandian on May 19 addressed multiple public meetings at Krushna Prasad and Kerandia in the Brahmagiri Assembly segment, as well as Pipili, Chilika, and Ranpur and highlighted the BJP’s intent to halt popular state schemes – Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) and Madhubabu Pension Yojana. He also questioned BJP star campaigners’ promises to make every state number one, pointing out the inconsistency in Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s claims during campaigning in Odisha. Pandian assured voters of continued and expanded welfare programmes, including free electricity for farmers and consumers up to 100 units, increased remuneration for Anganwadi and ASHAs, and various initiatives to support women and youth.

Naveen Vikas Or Modi Guarantee?
The BJD has nominated Arup Patnaik instead of 3-time Puri MP Pinaki Misra from the seat. He is being promoted as a native of Puri, hailing from Delang under the constituency, with a clean image and impressive administrative track record.

Patnaik is known for his philanthropic activities, including facilitating cancer care for patients during his time as Mumbai top cop. While development and governance have been the focal points of his campaign, the regional party has also played up the Rs 800-crore Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa as its biggest achievement in the past five years and also tried to project it on the scale of Ayodhya Ram Mandir inauguration.

On the other hand, Patra did not leave the constituency despite his defeat in 2019 elections when he was launched into electoral politics from Puri and almost pulled off a stunning upset over Pinaki, taking the fight to the last rounds of counting and losing by a slender margin of 11,714 votes. In the last five years, he moved around the constituency, building a personal connect with the people in each village, block and Assembly segments. He also presented a report card on the development works undertaken by him in the parliamentary constituency during this period, mentioning about expansion of national highway, railway and postal services, lighting facility at the mouth of Chilika lake, extension of financial assistance under different schemes to farmers, weavers, fishermen and women self-help groups.

Meanwhile, Congress faced an awkward situation after its first choice Sucharita Mohanty returned the party ticket citing lack of funds. Following which, the party fielded Jay Narayan Patnaik from the seat in what seems more like a token challenge. In the last election, the Congress’s vote share decreased to 3.94% from 17.06% in 2009 and 18.5% in 2014.

How Are The Assembly Segments Placed?
Of the seven assembly seats under Puri Lok Sabha constituency, five are represented by BJD MLAs. The BJP had won Puri, and  Brahmagiri seats in 2019. While Jayanta Sarangi is seeking re-elections from Puri, the party has fielded former MLA and senior Congress leader late Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra’s Upasana in place of her uncle Lalitendu.

The BJD has sitting MLAs in Satyabadi, Pipili, Chilika, Ranpur, and Nayagarh. The swapping of its 2019 MLA candidates in Satyabadi and Brahmagiri seats can affect the party prospects in the upcoming polls. Similarly, Prashant Jagdev, who won the Chilika seat, has switched sides to BJP and is contesting from Khurda. Raghunath Sahu is now the BJD candidate from Chilika. Though Rudra Pratap Maharathy won the bypoll to Pilili in October 2021 after the death of his father and sitting BJD MLA Pradeep Maharathy, the contest will not be easy for him this time.

All these Assembly segments are likely to witness tough two-way fight and Modi wave can work in BJP’s favour here. Therefore, it will be a big achievement for the BJD if it manages to win this challenge of guarding its Puri bastion.