Trade unionist Santosh Pattnaik likely to play key role
Paradip in the Jagatsinghpur district being an industrial hub of the State is a key Assembly constituency for the elections.This time, the constituency is all set for a keen fight between veteran BJD leader, Health Minister and local sitting MlA Dr Damodar Rout and a new promising politician, Bapi Sarkhel, a prominent trade union leader who is the Congress candidate.
Pramod Jena, who was the Congress candidate here in the 2009 elections, was miserably defeated by Dr Rout. Congress rebel candidate Ramesh Samantaray, who had fought as an Independent, came out second in this poll by bagging 36,735 votes against Jena’s 13,829. Dr Rout had polled 76,351.
Ahead of this election, Samantaray has joined the BJD at the instance of Dr Rout to counter the impact of Bapi Sarkhel’s appearance as the Congress contender. However, unlike in 2009, the BJD this time will not get the votes of the left parties’ supporters as it has not renewed its electoral pact with them.
While a strong contest is on the cards between Rout and Sarkhel, observers feel that another local trade union leader, Santosh Kumar Pattnaik, is likely to play an important role that may tilt the balance in either contestant’s favour. Pattnaik commands the support of the members of several large workers’ unions besides many old and handicapped citizens and unemployed youths of the area whom he renders sustained help.
But Pattnaik, according to sources close to him, has yet to decide whether to support Rout or Sarkhel. While he is known to be pro-BJD, he has a longstanding relationship with Sarkhel and both of them are the common mentors of many workers’ unions.
This is for the first time that Sarkhel has joined a political party before entering into electoral race. Pattnaik is likely to take his decision before the election date of April 17.A major factor for the Paradip poll fight will, however, be the voters of 27 gram panchayats of Kujang block and 17 gram panchayats of Tirtol block who are parts of this constituency’s electorate.