After former MLAs Pravat Kumar Tripathy and Pravat Kumar Biswal have settled their sons in Banki and Tangi-Choudwar Assembly constituencies respectively as their successors in the last general election, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister and Athagarh MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain looks inclined to give his only son Aditya Pratap Swain a fair chance in Athagarh politics.
It is seen that Ranendra has been sending his son to nook and corners of Athagarh to meet the people's representatives of several gram panchayats and Athagarh NAC.
In some of the political and apolitical programmes in Athagarh, Aditya's presence is found. In the banners and hoardings of new year greetings, image of Aditya has been tagged with different BJD people's representatives, workers and youths of Athagarh.
As per reports, Ranendra has been representing Athagarh Assembly constituency unbeatable since 1990 with a break in 2009. However, it was settled when the Supreme Court gave a verdict in favour of Ranendra. Around this time, Ranendra has succeeded to be in good book of CM Naveen Patnaik and has managed to get a Cabinet berth.
This time being a Minister for Food Supply, Co-operative and Consumer Welfare departments he is successfully discharging his duty but due to corruption allegation against his brother Birendra Pratap Swain and exploitation of some farmers when he was the president of Cuttack Central Cooperative Bank, he is on the backfoot.
The Opposition parties have made it an issue and are demanding ouster of Ranendra from his Ministry.
During this juncture, Ranendra has intended to lift his son and retain power in his clutch through his son. Ranendra has drawn flak from some section of people here who have begun to raise a question on giving Aditya a scope. Concentration of power in hand of Ranendra's family may lead to tyranny, they said.