With the polls just months away, hectic political activities have begun in Umarkote BJP unit, with leaders vying for party ticket from the Assembly segment. As the BJP top brass is looking for a winnable candidate, party insiders say it is doubtful that Nityananda Gond, who has lost twice, may get the party ticket again.
Another prominent aspirant Sudersen Majhi, who is a ZP member from Raighar and played a crucial role in the last panchyat election, is in the race with the support of prominent BJP leaders of Raighar. Raighar block is having more panchyats and covers majority of electorate in Umarkote constituency. Usually more weightage is given to the area by the parties to woo voters.
“Undoubtedly, the focus would be on Raighar block and the demands of BJP leaders of Raighar would be scrutinized,” said a local senior leader of BJP with a condition of anonymity. Sources said after the demise of former BJP MLA Dharmu Gond, the party has been reeling under internal rift. Dissent continued in the party after denial of party ticket to Reena Maji, the wife of late Dharmu, in the 2014 elections. Later she contested as an independent candidate that split the vote bank of BJP causing an easy victory to BJD.
However, Nabarangpur district BJP president Gobina Kumar Jain refuted the dissent factor and said the party would perform well in the coming elections.
