A triangular fight is expected among candidates of BJD, Congress and BJP in Mahanga Assembly seat. In the fray this time are Pratap Jena (BJD), Debendra Kumar Sahu(Congress) and Sarada Prasad Pradhan (BJP).
In 2014 election, BJD’s Jena had defeated Independent candidate Pradhan by a margin of 27,874 votes. Congress candidate Sheikh Matlub Ali came third with just 22,297 votes.
The Mahanga constituency comprises 37 panchayats of Mahanga block and 27 panchayats of Nischitakoili block. The constituency has been under the control of the BJD since 2000. While BJD candidate Sarat Kumar Kar won this seat in 2000, Bikram Keshari Barma of the same party won here in 2004. Pratap won in 2009 and 2014 from Mahanga by big margins.
According to local political analysts, the BJD looks well organised under the leadership of Jena. The Minister is moving every nook and corner of the constituency. The voters of the constituency are happy with the development work of BJD Government which includes construction of roads, electrification, street lights connection and proper implementation of Public Distribution System. The mood of the voters indicates that the BJD is far ahead in comparison to Congress and BJP on popularity scale.
Jena said, "People of Mahanga have been supporting BJD and its leader Naveen Patnaik since 2000. Our party will win the coming polls with convincing majority."