Odisha LS Polls: Daughters Of Two Close Friends Cross Swords In Aska

Berhampur: Aska Lok Sabha constituency in Odisha’s Ganjam district, the political birthplace of Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik, will witness the daughters of two close friends crossing swords.

Late Ramakrushna Patnaik, a veteran leader of the erstwhile Janata Dal, BJD and BJP and Hara Prasad Sahu, BJD leader and former chairman of Kodala notified area council (NAC) were friends for more than 30 years. Now, Ramakrushna’s daughter Anita Subhadarshini and Hara Prasad’s daughter Ranjita Sahu will fight against each other in Lok Sabha elections for Aska seat.

Anita is a post-graduate in Political Science and also holds a bachelor’s degree in Law. She gave a good fight to Pramila Bisoyi in 2019 election. While Pramila won the seat by securing 5,52,364 votes, Anita secured 2,06,115 votes. Anita will once again represent the saffron party to take on BJD’s Ranjita.

On the other hand, Ranjita has been active in Kabisuryanagar Assembly segment for the last two years and headed the Kabisurya Yubak Sangh with 7,000 members.

While BJP has seen an incremental growth in vote share for Anita’s works at ground level Subhadarshini in the constituency, Ranjita is hopeful of reaching out to the voters of all seven Assembly segments including Naveen’s home turf Hinjili, Polasara, Kabisuryanagar, Khallikote, Aska, Surada and Sanakhemundi.

“I have been active in Kabisuryanagar for the last two years and there would be no difficulties in covering the other six Assembly segments,” Ranjita said.

She also feels proud that she belongs to a political family which has been serving the people for the last three decades. Apart from her father, her mother Sunitaprava Sahu was also former chairperson of Kodala NAC. Ranjita said that she would now focus on developmental projects of the government to woo the voters.

The voting in Aska Lok Sabha constituency is scheduled on May 20.