For the Pipili Assembly by-election scheduled on September 30, BJD, BJP and Congress are vying with each other to reach the victory post. The BJP rank and file is optimistic this time. The Congress is running from pillar to post with a hope to gain mileage owing to the development that had taken place in the constituency during the past Congress regime.
Since large public meetings are banned due the Covid situation, all the political parties are concentrating on door-to-door campaigns spending sleepless nights in the labyrinthine lanes and by lanes of the rural Delanga and the Pipili blocks of the constituency.
The BJP believes that had the election been held in right time without any postponement, they would have had a resounding victory and yet they believe that the undercurrent is in its favour. The BJP is critical of the ruling
BJD leaders alleging that the ruling party is flouting all norms of decency and decorum of the election code of conduct while the BJD condemns the attitude of BJP workers in often inciting violence during the campaign.
The BJD leaders and workers are confident of winning the fray with a comfortable margin owing to a sympathy factor for the death of incumbent MLA Pradeep Maharathy and a clean image of party supremo Naveen Patnaik.
While Minister for Labour & ESI Susanta Singh is in charge of Delanga block, Minister of School & Mass Education Samir Ranjan Dash is in charge of Pipili block. Besides, a dozen other MLAs are working panchayat-wise and other party leaders working booth-wise to ensure that the party retains the seat. In this background, BJD leader and senior MLA Pratap Keshari Deb, a trusted lieutenant to Naveen Patnaik, is at the vanguard keeping a nelson eye over the constituency and on the activities of the BJD workers and leaders, taking a stock of the situation from minute to minute. In an interview to The Pioneer, Deb spoke to Sugyan Choudhury about the by-poll.
What are the chances of BJD in the Pipili by-poll?
We in the BJD are cent-per-cent confident of winning the by-poll. The seat belonged to us. We had a sitting MLA and he was quite senior.
We lost him owing to the pandemic. The by-election was declared, but It could not take place in right time as the Congress candidate also lost his life due to corona. The election was shifted again. Again due to the second wave of the pandemic, the Election Commission shifted the date. But we are confidant of wining the seat.
Various disgruntled elements of the BJD are fighting against one another? What’s your response to this?
Dissensions and dissatisfaction are part of a democratic process. This comes to the fore when elections are held along with the BJP and the Congress. How can the BJD as a democratic party be away from it? There is nothing new in your query. So far, no election has been conducted where all men are in the same page, same book and on same theory.
The BJP alleges blatant use of Govt machinery, black money and men and muscle power by the BJD. What is your response?
This is an age-old allegation. In Odia, it is called (Bahubala, Arthabala and Sarakari Kala). People in the opposition shall always adhere to this much-orchestrated adage. There is no merit in their such contentions.
Do you think the BJP’s pan is heavier this time in Pipili?
I don’t think it so. If you take the electoral history of Pipilli or Puri, the BJP had never made any mark so far. They have no workers of their own and they always try to fly with barrowed feathers. Had their pan been heavier, how could we be hopeful of a decisive victory?
Do you think the BJD shall win by a slender or a huge margin?
I am concerned with democratic process where victory is victory. I can name at least 30 members of Parliament who have won by 5,000 votes only. I can name at least three members of Assembly who have won by less than 500 votes. And they are all Hon’ble MPs and Hon’ble M.L.As.
What are the plans for the development of Pipili if you win the poll?
Developmental agenda and activities have become the sine qua non of Naveen Patnaik and the BJD. From day one of the BJD regime, whether, it is by-poll or general elections or panchayat elections, the BJD has been concerned with development only.
This question needs a bit of introspection. How could the people of Odisha bless Naveenbabu for a fifth consecutive term? The reason is astounding. This is only development of the State and the people, to which the BJD and Naveenbabu are committed.
Is Naveenbabu so confident of victory that he is not going for direct campaign at Pipili and is doing so through virtual mode?
You media people are complaining that political people are vitiating the atmosphere; and now that he is doing it in virtual mode, you say that he is sighing away from it. First of all, media should spell out its opinion without the language of equivocation.