As political pundits predict that Odisha will this time witness the toughest polls in its electoral history, voters will have a difficult time deciding whom to cast their votes for.
The Baleswar Lok Sabha constituency is set to experience an exciting contest with the BJD and the BJP sticking to their nominees fielded in the 2014 polls. And the Congress has nominated Navajyoti Patnaik, son of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Niranjan Patnaik.
With the list of candidates released by the Congress Central Election Committee for seven Lok Sabha seats in Odisha on Friday, Navajyoti is now the focus point both for the party workers and the political observers.
This is Navajyoti’s debut in electoral politics and, moreover, he has been fielded for a Parliamentary seat. The Baleswar Lok Saha constituency was a Congress stronghold in the distant past.
In the present situation, the battle for the seat will not be easy for the young Patnaik as he will face two strong leaders, BJP’s Pratap Sarangi and BJD’s Rabindra Kumar Jena, as his rival. Though known in his party, Navajyoti is a new face for voters who will exercise their franchise on April 23 in third phase of the general elections in the State.
“There is always a beginning; and this is my beginning,” he told media after his name was announced for the polls.
If the results of past elections for the Balasore Lok Sabha seat are analysed, Navajyoti is likely to gain the traditional Congress votes in his favour. BJP contender Pratap Sarangi, who had lost the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in this seat, will give a tough fight to his rivals. The sitting BJD MP Rabindra Jena has a strong presence in the coastal district which may upset the political fortunes of his opponents.