The election to the Paradip municipality is likely to witness a triangular fight among the BJD, Congress and the BJP even though the newly-formed Paradip Pragati Parisad (PPP), which has fielded candidates in 14 of 19 wards, claims to be a strong contender.
According to poll observers, voters of 25 slums, which have more than 10,000 of total 36,864 electorates, would play a deciding factor in the election to be held on Tuesday. Similarly, the PPP, which fielded some dissident BJD leaders and has supporters mostly in the town area, is likely to make the election a tough one this time.
“Though the Chief Minister addressed a rally on the last day on Sunday, yet strong campaigns staged by the BJP and the Congress and emergence of the PPP with pro-people promises and some independent candidates indicate that the election would not be an easy win for the ruling BJD,” said a political analyst.
He predicted that Paraidp Municipality Council may be a hung one this time. Now Sambit Rout, son of local MlA and Excise Minister Damodar Rout, is spearheading the BJD team following his father’s ill health. Many of BJD senior leaders, including the Chief Minister and a few other ministers, had participated in the campaign trail, which ended on Sunday evening. They mainly highlighted various welfare programmes undertaken by the State Government during the last 15 years.
Similarly, the Congress, which had formed Paradip Municipality Council a decade ago, requested the voters to give it a chance again. While Bapi Sarkel led the Congress campaign, many senior party leaders too joined.
The BJP, which is trying to cash in on the pro-people schemes undertaken by its Government at the Centre, has fielded candidates in all 19 wards. Though many senior leaders joined its campaign, had the two Central Ministers, Jual Oram and Dharmendra Pradhan, campaigned for candidates, situation would have been much better, said a BJP leader.
Elaborate arrangements have been made by civil and police administration for smooth conduct of the pole. As many as 36,864 voters would exercise their franchise at 45 polling stations on Tuesday. Counting of votes and results are scheduled to be declared on Wednesday.