Odisha Polls: Can Kulesika Make A Comeback On BJP Ticket In Laxmipur Assembly Seat?

Bhubaneswar: For Kailash Chandra Kulesika, the former MLA of Laxmipur Assembly seat in Odisha’s Koraput district, winning from the constituency this time has become a matter of honour.

Kulesika had resigned from Congress and joined Biju Janata Dal (BJD) just before panchayat elections in 2022. According to him, he had been assured of BJD nomination for Laxmipur in 2024 elections.

But the BJD dropped Kulesika and nominated its sitting MLA Prabhu Jani for Laxmipur in its list of candidates for Assembly elections. This led Kulesika to cry betrayal by the BJD.

He went public against the ruling party in Odisha and accused it of going against its promise to him when he joined it two years back.

He also accused Jani of getting the party ticket after paying a huge amount of money. “BJD betrayed me and nominated Jani after he brokered a deal for Rs 5-6 crore. When I raised my voice, the BJD offered me a party post with an allurement of Rs 1 crore. But I turned down the offer as I have been people’s leader and want to serve them in the field,” he said.

Then he joined BJP and vowed to avenge the BJD’s betrayal by defeating its candidate Jani in the elections.

Kulesika had contested from Laxmipur as Congress candidate in 2014 elections and defeated Hema Gamang by a margin of more than 22,000 votes. But in 2019 elections, Kulesika lost to BJD’s Jani by only 229 votes.

While the BJP has never won from Laxmipur, Jani has been active in the constituency and preparing his ground to garner support from the voters.

Meanwhile, the Congress has fielded a young face, Pabitra Saunta in the poll battleground. Though a tripartite fight cannot be ruled out, BJD has to reckon with Kulesika as a potential challenge.