So far the political scenario of Sundarharh district is concerned there is every probability of a triangular contest between the BJD, the Congress and the BJP in the next elections.
But the recent development indicates the position of BJP has been deteriorating drastically. In 2014 elections despite the Naveen Patnaik wave, the BJP could wrest the Sundargarh Parliament and Rourkela Assembly seats.
For the first time, the BJP had won the Rourkela seat. But it had won the Sundargarh Parliament seat earlier in 1998, 2000 and 2004 while being in alliance with the BJD.
The party had performed very well in 2017 Panchayat election. But the political development that has occurred in between in the district will definitely have adverse effect on BJP performance in 2019, opine political pundits here.
In 2014, while the party had won the Sundargarh Parliament seat, it was leading in Biramitrapur and Rourkela Assembly seats. At the same time, it had lagged in other five other Assembly seats. The credit for the BJP’s win goes to for Dilip Ray who was party’s MLA candidate in Rourkela. But now Ray has not only left the party but his functioning indicates he will try his level best to give a lesson to the party in the coming elections. Similarly so far the party has no other source to recover the loss due to the quitting of Ray.
Apart from this, another potential leader of the party of Talsara Assembly segment Santosh Amat had already joined the BJD earlier.
Besides, many more second line leaders of the party have already left and to compensate it no such remarkable joining programme of the party is held so far. Besides, MP Oram had also put himself in trouble due to his attitude and statements in previous days. He also damaged his image to some extent due to his non-cooperation towards activist Muktikanta Biswal in Delhi.
In the last election, the Congress candidate was in third position in Sundargarh Parliament seat but it could manage to win in two Assembly seats i.e. Sundargarh and Talsara. Though internal fight in the party was acute, but the Congress got strength when the popular tribal leader of the district and four- time MLA of Biramitrapur George Tirkey joined it in last September. After the joining of Tirkey, it is said that the party will not only perform well in the Sundargarh Lok Sabha seat but also the party’s MLA strength in the district will go up. Because Tirkey is not only a popular leader but also, has organization throughout the district.
Sundargarh MLA Jogesh Singh has already been suspended from the Congress and may join the BJD. Similarly, the role and action of Talsara MLA Prafulla Majhi is also in suspense. So this may hamper the Congress’s prospect.
Now eyes are on the decision of Ray’s future political role. Though he left the BJP in November but he has not yet taken any decision about his next move. So whether he will go to the BJD or to the Congress has become a talk in the city. If he goes to Congress then it will be another bonanza for the party in the district.
Similarly, in 2014 elections, for the first time BJD had sponsored a party candidate in Parliament seat who lost by a thin margin but the party could manage to win in two Assembly segments i.e. Rajgangpur and Raghunathpalli. This time though party is in a comfortable position as many stalwarts of other parties have joined the BJD.