Jharsuguda has turned out to be a hot seat as the forthcoming elections are concerned. Two stalwarts, former Speaker Kishore Mohanty of BJD and sitting Congress MlA Naba Kishore Das are locking horns. BJP has fielded Anand Pradhan in the seat.
After delimitation in 2009, Jharsuguda has been a blessing for Congress as three tribal blocks such as Kirmira, laikera and Kolabira are included under it with 1,75,000 voters in all.Previously, a vast portion of Sambalpur district, including Hirakud township, was under this constituency that suited the BJD to a great extent. But the scenario changed in 2009.
Three tribal blocks house mostly the Congress voters. Before delimitation, these three blocks were in laikera constituency.This area was also a safe place for sitting Sundergarh MP and former Chief Minister Hemanand Biswal, who got elected from here several times. But delimitation was a turning point which gave the Congress an edge over other parties.
Further, Jharsuguda Municipality area is included under this constituency where the share of votes is almost equal among all the major parties. The result being, the two rivals Kishore Mohanty and Naba Das are deeply concentrating on rural votes instead of on the district headquarters.
In the last urban body elections, the Congress got defeated from the BJD in Jharsuguda Municipality. But the vote difference was very undersised. Political observers feel that the votes from the three block areas of the district will determine the fate of the candidates.
Realising the truth, the three major political parties, BJD, BJP and Congress are mostly concentrating on the rural voters and trying their best to woo them.Mohanty alleges that during the last five years, MlA Das has patronized goons and encouraged corruption in the constituency.
“Naba Das’s achievement is that he has made each child of the constituency addicted to liquor,” charged Mohanty, adding, “In spite of rapid industrialization, the locals hardly get any benefit, though Das’ supporters from Sambalpur town have become millionaires during this period.”
Countering the charges, Das says the former MlA must evaluate his contribution to Jharsuguda.