Despite sweeping the panchayat polls, the BJD seems unhappy about the party’s dismal performance in the municipality elections in Jagatsinghpur district.
The BJD failed to win the Jagatsinghpur Municipality Chairperson post,
while it won 9 councillors out of 21 wards. It also does not find it
in a comfortable position to win the Vice-Chairperson post.
Although BJD won the Paradip Municipality Chairperson post but it does not have the required number of Councillors for winning the
Vice-Chairperson post on its own. The party bagged seven Councillors
out of total 19.
In Jagatsinghpur Municipality Congress candidate Archana Singh
defeated BJD nominee Rajashree Mohapatra by a slender margin of 220
votes to grab the Chairperson post.
Interestingly, Rajashree is the party’s Jagatsinghpur town BJD
president Priyabrata Mohapatra’s wife. Moreover, Priyabrata is
recognised as MLA cum BJD district president Prasanta Muduli’s close
aide.
Earlier there was much dissidence in the BJD unit over candidature of
Rajashree as there were two more aspirants for the Chairperson post.
Rajashree succeeded in getting the ticket due to the influence of her
husband.
However, the dissidence in the party was a big issue for her. The
nominations filed by the rebels led to division of BJD votes leading
to her defeat.
The BJD is in all likelihood will face a tough task in selection of a
candidate for the election to the Vice-Chairperson post to be held on
April 7. The BJD is short of 2 Councillors to reach the the magic
number of 11 for winning the poll. On the other hand, Congress has 7
Councillors which too is not having the requisite number to grab the
Vice-Chairperson post independently. So both parties will have to
depend on three independent Councillors to win the Vice Chairperson
post.
Sources informed that BJD rebels Diptiranjan Sahoo who was elected as
an independent from ward number 20 and Debsis Swain who won from ward-17, want the Vice-Chairperson post as a condition to support
the BJD. Meanwhile, party's district leaders and MLAs are lobbying at
Bhubaneswar to clear a name for the Vice Chairperson post.
Although BJD won Paradip Chairperson post but it is still short of the
number to occupy the Vice-Chairperson post. The party bagged 7
Councillors out of 19. Trade unionist Bapi Sarkhel backed independent
candidates won in 8 wards and Congress got one Councillor who will
support Bapi Sarkhel. Meanwhile, Bapi has announced contesting the
municipality Vice-Chairperson post. He requires only one Councillor.
BJD faces deficiency of three councilors to win the election.
On the other hand, three Councillors were elected from BJP to Paradip
Municipality this time, who may play a crucial role in the Paradip
vice chairperson election.
"Since the local body polls are fought on local issues, people usually
elect candidates who are well connected with them. So the results do
not reflect the anger against the party," a senior BJD leader claimed