While the election fever is slowly gripping Ganjam district, the delay in declaration of the BJP candidate for the Brahmapur lok Sabha constituency is causing restlessness among party office-bearers and workers here.
Former State Assembly Deputy Speaker Rama Chandra Panda is expected by most of the party cadres as the candidate for the seat. Panda, a student leader of the 1960s, has a special identity in Ganjam politics for his uprightness in public life. He was Chairman of OlC and OAIC during the Janata Dal Government led by Biju Patnaik. He spearheaded the water movement in the district.
Many local leaders have conveyed their concern to both State and national BJP leaders over the delay in declaring Panda’s candidature for the Brahmapur lS seat. Party insiders feel that the party has kept Panda’s name hanging under the pressure of an outsider who has little base in this constituency. The BJP candidate who has been nominated for the Chhatrapur Assembly segment has reportedly conveyed the party high command that he cannot win without Panda contesting from the lS seat. Besides, three former chairmen of Panchayat Samities and some district party office-bearers have also conveyed similar feelings to the party high command, sources said.