A question is haunting BJD supporters as to whether the party would be able to capture the prestigious Rourkela Assembly seat in this election.
The BJD had won the seat in three consecutive terms in 2000, 2004 and 2009, but lost to the BJP in 2014 election.
There is a faction and intra rivalry among BJD leaders and workers in the Assembly segment because of which it would be tough for the party to win the seat if a proper neutral candidate is not fielded, feel political observers here.
Sharada Nayak, who had switched from Congress to BJD in 2004 and successfully contested in two consecutive elections before losing the seat to the BJP’s Dilip Ray in 2014, is an aspirant in this election too.
Notably, Nayak was a Minister from 2009 to 2011 until he was removed from the State Cabinet for his alleged involvement in May 29 coup against the CM.
Following his removal from the Cabinet, people lost confidence in him and anti incumbency factor also led to his defeat in 2014. Giving ticket to Nayak in 2014 election was a setback for the BJD as well, according to observers.
“Calling him corrupt on one hand and awarding a party ticket to him on the other was actually a blunder, which was reflected in the result,” said Narayan Prasad Das, a senior political observer.
Although, Dilip Ray has resigned from the BJP and announced not to contest from Rourkela anymore, still the BJD has to be very cautious to nominate a proper candidate to recapture the seat, he feels.
Sharada Nayak, besides his damaged goodwill factor, has not been able to contribute any eye-catching development as the Chairman of Rourkela Development Authority, which he had received as a gift from the party supremo after his defeat.
Stiff hike of holding tax, defective Sarbakhyama policy and no new housing projects during his tenure have aggravated public's ire against him. Besides, Nayak is also facing tough challenges from the BJD rank and file, as a group of BJD workers under the leadership of former Rourkela Municipality Chairperson Rashmibala Mishra has launched a tirade against him.
Under these circumstances, the BJD supremo needs to field a neutral candidate, preferably a new face, who can be able to maintain a balance among the fraction forces for achieving success in the election.