While several candidates filed their nominations from various seats in Keonjhar district, mass resignations of members in district Congress continued to weaken the party, adding to the advantage of the BJP. BJD is facing anti-incumbency in certain pockets while rebel candidates threaten to spoil its chances of victory in several constituencies.
Former senior Congress leader Sanatan Mahakud, who resigned from the party recently, filed his nominations from Champua Assembly constituency as an Independent candidate on Monday. He arrived in the Champua Sub Collector’s office with more than 15,000 supporters in a rally which choked the streets and markets of the small town keeping the police busy for hours to clear the traffic. Hundreds of former Congress leaders and labour union leaders from the left parties too were seen in Mahakud’s rally.
Senior leader and former PCC president Niranjan Patnaik, who is a strong contestant from Ghasipura Assembly seat, abstained from contesting the 2014 elections blaming the State Congress leadership.
Pritviraj Kaunr, the Congress nominee for Ghasipura has filed his nominations with little support from his local party workers. Rather more than 500 workers resigned in protest of the Congress fielding Kaunr.
Satyabrata Panda, who had joined BJP overnight quitting BJD, was fielded from Ghasipura making the election easy for the the BJD. Dhanurjaya Sidhu, former Congress MlA from Champua Assembly seat, filed his nominations from Telkoi Assembly seat much to the disappointment of party aspirants in Telkoi. Since Sidhu is an outsider for Telkoi constituency, the advantage can swing in favour of BJP nominee Kailash Nayak, who is a local of Telkoi. However, Kailash will face tough contest from BJD candidate Bedabyas Nayak, who is son of former MlA Niladri Nayak.
Even PCC president Jayadev Jena, who was earlier defeated by Mayadhar Jena, has to contest again with him from the Anandpur Assembly seat as Mayadhar was lately declared as the BJD candidate replacing Bhagirathi Sethi. With the number of rebel Independent candidates increasing in his party, Jayadev is facing a tough time uniting the workers in his support. Ananta Nayak, the district BJP president and former MP has filed nominations for Keonjhar Parliament seat. BJD MP candidate Sankuntala laguri, wife of sitting MP Jaswant Narayan Singh laguri, enjoys little cooperation from the local BJD workers due to Jaswant’s unpopularity. In 2009, BJD had won clear mandate in Keonjhar district with 5 MlA and MP seat.