The three-tier panchayat electionS in the tribals- dominated Gajapati district have given massive success to many minority community candidates who had contested for various posts by getting support or tickets from all major political parties, including the BJD, the Congress and the CPI(M) and as Independents.
Gajapati district consists of seven blocks such as Mohana, Gosani, Kasinagar, Nuagada, Rayagada and R Udaygiri. The minority communities are largely found in five blocks, especially in Mohana, Rayagada, R Udaygiri, Nuagada and Gumma blocks which are a Congress bastion since a decade.
Total Gram Panchayats in the district is 149. Interestingly, in this election, the minority groups which used to be far away from politics, have shown interest in it and are contesting for various posts.
The minority groups demanded party ticket for Zilla Parishad seats and successfully proved their mettle.
As per sources, Hemanshu limma won from Zilla Parishad Zone 4 in Gumma block as a Congress candidate. He belongs to a minority group and is a director of a NGO run for the minority.
The reason behind of his success is he had earlier fought for the people due to the ration card irregularities in the block. In the same manner, Jacob Majhi, a minority leader of R Udaygiri block Zone 11, won as a Congress candidate. Arun Majhi, a Congress ZP candidate of Rayagda block, also a minority leader, however, could not turn the tide in his favour since the Rayagada block is a BJP stronghold.
Premika Raita won from Zone 3 Zilla Parishad as a minority leader on Congress ticket due to her strong leadership quality and people -oriented agenda.
Many Samiti Members of minority group have also won election. Mafiyal Swalsingh, a social worker who won the Samiti Member seat, is a minority member.
He conducted a road show in Rayagada block, where thousands of people gathered to extend him the support to cast their votes. Notably, he is well known in the Rayagada block for his helping attitude. In the same way Gyana Ranjan Jena, a minority leader supported by BJD party, won.