The scheduled April 7 Paradip municipality election is going to be a tough exercise for all major political parties - the BJD, BJP and the Congress - this time. The Paradip Pragati Parisad (PPP), a newly-formed organisation led by trade union leader Santosh Kumar Pattanaik, is all set to play a key role in driving the poll to a conclusive end. “Most of the slum dwellers have been fed up with the present Council formed by the BJD as they are yet to get a proper drinking water supply system and electricity connectivity. Besides, no remarkable infrastructural development has been done during the last 10 years. The Congress and the BJP have also failed to raise voice against this non-performance of the Council. Hence, the PPP, with its pro-poor promises, is expected to play a decisive role,” said a political analyst.
Meanwhile, the three mail political parties have expedited their respective campaign trails in favour of their respective candidates. Many BJD senior leaders, MlAs and Ministers have been camping hard in two groups till midnight to retain the Council. They include MP Dr Kulamani Samal, local MlA and Excise Minister Dr Damodar Rout and MlAs Debasish Samataray, Dr Rajshree Mallick, Rabindra Mallick, Prasant Muduli and party spokesperson Pratap Jena. Congress candidates are fighting the poll under leadership of Bapi Sarkhel and Er Pramod Kishor Jena. The BJP looks to be in a comfortable position as it is trying to cash in on pro-people Central schemes taken up by the Modi-Government. It has fielded candidates in all 19 wards for which senior party leaders are visiting the port town regularly.