Highly politically-sensitive district Jagatsinghpur is all agog with leaders vying with each other for nominations for different constituencies from the BJD. According to sources, as many as over half a dozen aspirants intend to have the BJD cake on their way.
With the announcement of a 33-per cent reservation for women, hope tells a flattering tale in the ears of women aspirants; and so, Kanak Lenka has offered her candidature from the BJD for the Jagatsinghpur Assembly seat. But she may find it difficult to cross the bridge as she has earned more enemies than friends during her stints in different position in the constituency.
Greenhorns like Pradeep Swain and student leader Amarendra Das appear unacceptable to a large section of voters despite their close proximity to popular leader and BJD district president Bishnu Charan Das. Nomination of Minati Das is also a matter of speculation.
Another aspirant and a leading cooperative activist, Narayan Biswal, though a contender for this Assembly segment, is reportedly facing health problems. Candidature of former Balikuda MLA Umesh Swain for the Jagatsinghpur constituency is viewed with skepticism since he is like a bad coin out of circulation.
BJD district chief, veteran Dalit leader, former Minister, former Rajya Sabha member MP Bishnu Das, who is Vice-Chairman of State Planning Board, has his strong holds in the district. Sources say Das is interested to fight from the Tirtol reserved consitituency as a major portion of this segment includes Biridi block, which is an impregnable fortress for him. Das enjoys a groundswell of support by the voters of Biridi and Tirtol blocks; and if he gets ticket for Tirtol, the BJD is expected to win the seat without much difficulty.
In an event of Das finally contesting from Tirtol, the BJD high command may seriously weigh the candidature of former Balikuda MLA Jyotish Das for the Jagatsinghpur general constituency, it is learnt from sources. Jyotish Das is a leader quite accessible to all sections of voters. As a former Congress leader, he can make inroads into the Congress pockets owing to his continued good relations with large numbers of Congress workers who are still loyal to him. Besides, he enjoys support of a section of BJP cadres as he was also once in this party. Above all, Das is an affable personality known for his suave manners.
According to political observers, the BJD high command can kill two birds in one stone by fielding Bishnu Das in Tirtol and Jyotish Das in Jagatsinghpur.
Notably, Chiranjib Biswal of the Congress won the Jagatsinghpur seat in the 2014 elections and is expected to be a strong contender against the BJD candidate this time too.