Ganjam is known as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s home constituency district. Winning election with a landslide victory in the district is synonymous with CM’s prestige here.
State’s most populous district, Ganjam has highest number (13)of Assembly constituencies such as Khalikote(SC), Chhatrapur(SC), Gopalpur, Brahmapur, Samkhemundi, Chikiti, Digapahandi, Aska Hinjili, Kabisuryanagar, Polasara,Surada and Bhanjanagar. It has also the highest number of ZP constituencies(69).
In 2012 PRI election, highest number of candidates (3,989 ) were elected unopposed in the district, comprising of 2014 ward members, 49 Sarpanchs, 51 nominees and one Zilla Parishad member. In 2012 ZP election, out of 69 ZP Zones of the district, BJD had own 60 Zones, followed by INC with four , BJP and CPI two each and CPM with one ZP Zone , leading to the formation of the district level Zilla Parishad Body by the BJD.
In 2014 Assembly poll, the BJD won from all constituencies. Only in the two constituencies of Brahmapur and Sana Khemundi, the Congress remained in second position with a small gap of 5 to 6per cent from BJD, whereas in other constituencies it remained in second position with wide gaps, except in Gopalpur where BJP stood second and in Chhatrapur where CPI stood second. In Gopalpur, the gap between BJP and BJD was 17 per cent and similarly in Chatrapur, the gap between BJD and CPI was 16 per cent.
The BJD has old leaders in Ganjam like Surya Narayan Patra, V Sugyani Deo, Bikram Arukha, Rmesh Chayupatnaik , Usha Devi and Naveen Patnaik. Polasra and Samkhemundi Assemblies were newly created after 2008 Assembly delimitation exercise while Chatrapur and Khalikote became reserved. BJD brought in new cadres in Gopalpur, Samkhemundi, Polasara, Chatrapur, Khalikote, Aska and Surada constituencies and rooted them gradually. In constituency like Sana Khemundi, it picked up candidate from royal family and in some other places, it used caste equations.
Threat for BJD emerged when BJD dropped its former Minister, Ramakrushna Patnaik from party. He contested from INC ticket in 2009 Assembly poll from Polsara but was defeated by BJD by 10 per cent margin. His wife and former BJD MP Kumudini Patnailk contested in 2014 Assembly poll from the same constituency with a BJP ticket but polled 13 per cent votes. Thus Patnaiks , who are in BJP, were marginalized. Communists were a competitor to BJD. BJD co-opted former CPI leader Nityanada Pradhan (Kabisuryanagar) and gave him RS seat. later, Narayan Reddy, another CPI leader, was marginalized as his constituency Chhatrapur turned to a reserved one. He unsuccessfully shifted to Sanakhemundi. Still the CPI vote was in favour of CPI new candidate in 2009 Assembly poll. But in 2014 election, party lost the seat and fell to the level of 22 per cent votes, a 16 per cent gap.
There were senior INC leaders such as Harihar Swain( Kabisuryanagar), Trinath Behera and Chintamani Dhyansamatray who became gradually weak. Now there are leaders like as former Union Minister, Chandrasekhat Sahoo, Bikram Panda( Brahmapur), Ramesh Swain( Sana Khemundi). There are internal conflicts in the party due to which it is losing. Death of lalatendu Bidhyadhar Mophatara, who was a uniting force, has also caused some loss to the Congress camp. The recent arrest of Ramesh Jena is a setback for INC in 2017 ZP poll. Therefore it is difficult for INC to rise to competing level in 2/3 constituencies. But they can occupy more ZP seats than the 2012 tally, only if they fight united in the constituencies where they have some presence.
The BJP has expanded its base in the district after it made its presence felt with 2nd position in Gopalpur in 2009 Assembly poll. It is interesting to note that BJP had won in Surada Assembly constituency in 1995 when there was no BJD-BJP alliance but later it became weak here. BJP can do better performance than last time if they focus on few segments. Defection of Ramachandra Panda to BJD may not be a loss to the BJP from voting percentage point of view but it will cause environmental damage to the BJP.
While the Opposition is weak in the district, the BJD is aiming for cent percent capturing of ZP seats in the district. BJD has brought back its dissident MlA Surya Narayan Patro into its camp, during Mahanadi campaign. Thus it has no dissidence at the MlA level. Sugyani Deo is being carried by party too. For BJD, the major challenge shall be the settlement of aspirants at ZP candidate level. If NFSA card issue is not settled well, it might create problems for the BJD. Chit fund issue, thought present in some parts of the district, may not have any effect on ZP polls.