Culturally coastal Odisha consists of Baleswar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Cuttack, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Khordha, Nayagarh and Puri districts. This region is known as a BJD stronghold. The voters of the region are educated. The region stood firmly with BJD and did not move to BJP or INC during 2014 lS polls, even in one lS seat. If BJP or Congress wants to come to power in the State, they cannot do so without the support of the region.
Baleswar district has seven Assembly constituencies. 2014 lS election witnessed the capture of lS seat by BJD, ending a decade of occupation of the seat by BJP and INC. During 2014 Assembly poll, BJD won from Jaleswar, Bhograi, Basta, Nilagiri, Soro(SC) and Simulia constituencies whereas BJP won from Remuna(SC) constituency.BJP was second in Nilagiri and Baleswar Assembly constituencies and INC was second in the rest. INC put up a strong fight against BJD in Basta, Soro and Simulia constituencies. As BJP was in 2nd position in the 2014 lS election in Baleswar, the party considers it as a priority seat for 2019 general election. On the other hand, former Union Minister Srikant Jena of Congress also wants to recapture the Parliament seat.
Bhograi, Basta, Soro and Simulia are fully rural Assembly constituencies. The BJD had won 34 Zilla Parishad(ZP) zones in 2012 PRI polls in Baleswar district, occupying the ZP body, leaving INC with 11 ZP zones. BJP hand was empty. The situation of BJP is expected to improve in 2017 PRI poll due to the win of one MlA in 2014 and the 2nd position of party in some Assembly segments. On the other hand, Congress infightings might affect ZP poll prospects. After BJD mended fence with former Minister Raghu Mohanty, it has no visible intra-party dissidents in the district which could help the party to form the ZP body again.
Bharak district has five Assembly constituencies, all of which went to BJD in 2014 Assembly poll. BJD has been occupying the lS seat in the district over decades. In Bhandaripokari, Bhadrak and Chandabali Assembly constituencies, BJD had won in comfortable margins in 2014. However, in Dhamnagar (SC) seat, BJP gave a close fight to BJD while in Basudevpur, Congress was neck to neck with BJD.
Except Bhadrak and Basudevpur, the rest three are fully rural Assembly constituencies. Out of 28 ZP zones of Bhadrak, the BJD had won 26 ZP zones in 2012 PRI polls, occupying the ZP body. The BJP was left with one and Independent one. INC was wiped out. There is no reason why BJD will not occupy the district ZP body in 2017. The situation of BJP is expected to improve in Dhamnagar, while INC might improve in Basudevpur.
Jajpur district has seven Assembly constituencies which went to BJD in 2014 poll. It is a BJD fort where all MlAs ad the MP win repeatedly. Except Sukinda, where a tough fight was given by INC and in Bari, where an Independent ran closer to the goalpost, the BJD bagged all the seats with comfortable leads.
Except Jajpur and Korei , the rest are fully rural Assembly constituencies. Out of 39 ZP zones of Jajpur, the BJD had won 35 in 2012, occupying the ZP body, leaving INC with three and Independent with one ZP zone. INC and BJP were wiped out. BJD is likely to occupy the ZP body in 2017. But one has to see if the farmers’ movement, which has infested some parts of the district, puts up independent candidates to break BJD votes.
Cuttack district has nine Assembly constituencies such as Athagarh, Banki, Baramba, Barbati-Cuttack, Choudwar-Cuttack, Cuttack Sadar(SC), Niali(SC), Salipur and Mahanga. BJD won in eight and INC one in 2014. BJP was in second position in Cuttack-Sadar but non-existent in Banki, Baramba, Salipur, Mahanga and Niali. Similarly, Congress was non-existent in Mahanga, Cuttack Sadar and Banki. Except Barbati-Cuttack and Choudwar Cuttack( barring 4 GPs) ,which are urban constituencies, the rest constituencies are facing rural polls this time. Out of 46 ZP zones of Cuttack, the BJD had won a sweeping 43 ZP zones in 2012 PRI polls, occupying the ZP body, leaving INC with just one and Independent with one ZP zone. INC and BJP had faced a disaster here. BJD is likely to occupy the ZP body in 2017 and performance of INC is expected to improve.
Kendrapada district has five Assembly constituencies such as Kendrapada (SC),Patkura, Aul, Rajnagar and Mahakalpada. INC had won from Aul and Rajnagar constituencies in 2014 Assembly poll whereas BJD had won from the rest. Congress was almost near the goal post in Kendrapada whereas BJP was in second position in Mahakalapada where Bijoy Mohapatra was contesting.
Patkura, Aul and Mahakalapada are fully rural constituencies whereas others are UlB-PRI mixed ones. Out of 32 ZP zones of Kendrapada district, the BJD had won 25 ZP zones in 2012 PRI polls, occupying the ZP body, leaving INC with six and BJP with one ZP zone. Congress and BJP are expected to improve their number this time.
Jagatsignhpur district has four Assembly constituencies such as Jagatsinghpur, Paradip, Tirtol(SC) and Balikuda-Erasama. INC had won from Jagatsinghpur whereas BJD won with comfortable gap from the INC in the rest constituencies. BJP had negligible presence. The induction of Raghunandan Das, an independent contestant who scored 2nd in last assembly poll, to the BJP, is expected to show some result in Balikuda-Ersama constituency.
Tirtol and Balikuda-Ersama are fully rural constituencies whereas others are UlB-PRI mixed. Out of 26 ZP zones of Jagatsinghpur district, the BJD had won 23 ZP zones in 2012 PRI polls, occupying the ZP body, leaving INC with just three seats. BJD is likely to occupy the ZP body again.
Khurda district has eight Assembly constituencies such as Jayadev (SC), Bhubaneswar-Central, Bhubaneswar-North, Ekamara-Bhubaneswar, Jatni,Begunia, Khurda and Chilika. BJP had won from Chilika and was second in three Bhubaneswar constituencies as well as in Khurda. Congress was decimated in Chilka, Begunia , Khurda and all Bhubaneswar constituencies. AOP stood second in Begunia.
Except Bhubaneswar-North constituency which is a fully urban body, the rest constituencies shall be involved in the PRI poll. Out of 30 ZP zones of Khurda district, the BJD had won 25 ZP zones in 2012 PRI polls, occupying the ZP body, leaving INC with one, BJP with two and Independents with two seats. BJD is likely wrest the ZP Body again.
Nayagarh district has four Assembly constituencies such as Ranpur, Nayagarh, Khandapada and Daspala (SC) where BJD had a sweeping win in 2014 Assembly poll. BJP was in second position in Ranpur while AOP was in second position in Khandapada. Out of 24 ZP zones of the district, the BJD had won 23 ZP zones in 2012 PRI polls, occupying the ZP body, leaving BJP with one seat. In 2017, despite BJD’s supremacy, AOP, INC and BJP may also give a tough fight in the ZP poll.
Puri district has six Assembly constituencies such as Kakatpur(SC), Nimapara, Puri,Brahmagiri, Satyabadi, and Pipli. BJD had a swept in five constituencies in 2014 Assembly poll. Satyabadi seat was won by Independent who later joined BJD. Congress was in second position in Kakatpur, Puri, Brahamagiri and Pipli whereas BJP was in second position in Nimapada. Satyabadi and Brahmagiri are fully rural constituencies.
Out 33 ZP zones of district, the BJD had won 24 ZP zones in 2012, occupying the ZP body, leaving INC with five zones and Independents with four zones.