The BJP received a jolt after its former party candidate Ramakanta Bhoi who fought Tirtol Assembly constituency unsuccessfully in the years 2014 and 2019 resigned ahead of the upcoming by-poll for the seat.
In another development three Congress leaders Rajkishor Behera, Devendra Mallick and former MLA Kailash Chandra Mallick have deserted the party. While Rajkishor and Kailash have joined the BJP, Devendra crossed over to the BJD.Meanwhile, in the BJD circle, the party is confronting serious internal rift over selecting a suitable candidate for the by- poll.
Although the party had captured the seat in 2019 elections with a huge margin after defeating its BJP rival but the demise of MLA Bishnu Das necessitating the by-poll has put BJD leadership on a sticky wicket over picking up a suitable candidate to field.
Das's son Bijaya Shankar Das has emerged as a top contender for ticket but his path to success is not all that rosy given late Das's opponents in the party who may lobby for a new face.Late Das’s antagonists recently had converged at Biridi under leadership of former vice chairman, Biridi block, Siva Prasad Jena, Sarpanch Nihar Ranjan Swain and former ZP member Bidhan Jena. Sources informed that this disgruntled BJD group is lobbying for ticket to MP Dr Rajashree Mallick’s husband Ashutosh Mallick.
However, another BJD group is in favour of giving ticket to a leader from Raghunathpur area this time as the nominees have been already chosen by the party earlier from Jagatsinghpur, Tirtol and Biridi. They are throwing their weight behind Yadhistera Sethi from Raghunathpur.
Political observers say that the BJD is undergoing intra party squabbles due to faction between late Bishnu Das group and MP Dr Rajashree Mallick supporters. They predict that after party declares a candidate for the by-poll, those who stay unhappy may cross over to the BJP.Sources further said BJP turncoat Ramakanta Bhoi is in constant touch with senior BJD leaders in State.
He maintains a good relationship with some BJD heavyweights and is lobbying hard for ticket. In 2014 Assembly elections, he had been lobbying for BJD ticket for Tirtol constituency and when he failed, he joined the BJP and contested elections unsuccessfully on BJP ticket.
Political analysts opine that if Ramakanta gets ticket from BJD, the BJP may suffer a huge setback and the prospects of BJP in Tirtol may be shattered.
In 2019 elections due to sincere efforts of Ramakanta, the BJP had obtained second position garnering 53,242 votes. The BJD had won with 93,217 votes and Congress with 23, 593 votes had finished in third.