Expressbuzz, April 1, 2009
BHAWANIPATNA: Field is set for an interesting fight in Kalahandi parliamentary constituency with nine candidates filing their nomination papers. Among them seven candidates filed nomination papers on the final day yesterday.
Among the nine, one is an Independent candidate.
Important candidates in the field are Bikram Keshari Deo of BJP, Bhakta Charan Das of Congress, Subash Chandra Nayak of BJD and Nakul Majhi of Bahujan Samaj Party. Despite nine candidates in the field, the fight will mostly likely to be a triangular one among BJP, Congress and BJD candidates.
Bikram Keshari Deo won on a BJP ticket in 12th, 13th and 14th Lok Sabha elections in 1998, 1999 and 2004 respectively. Grassroots organisation, and support of a major section to erstwhile royal family are responsible for his victory. But looking at the field he is not taking things lightly, a BJP source said. Bhakta Charan Das won the 9th Lok Sabha election in 1989 as a Janata Dal candidate and 11th Lok Sabha election in 1996 as a Samata Party candidate. Das despite being on the losing side in three consecutive parliamentary elections is trying his luck again. Das is in the limelight for his sustained agitation against Vedanta. This time it is a do or die situation for him.
Subash Chandra Nayak, who won to the 10th Lok Sabha election in 1991 as a Congress candidate, has been out of active power politics for a long time. After he resigned from Congress, BJD gave him the ticket.
A shrewd manoeuvrer, he has kept relationship with voters by regularly writing letters. Congress seems to be in an advantageous position due to likely division in anti-Congress votes after divorce between BJD and BJP. But the contest will be tough and it may lead to close finish between traditional fighters Bikram Keshari Deo and Bhakta Charan Das. However, Subash Chandra Nayak of BJD can’t be taken lightly as he is capable of slicing through traditional Congress vote bank. Similarly Nakul Majhi of BSP, who is a tribal leader, may also take away a chunk of tribal votes.
Both these candidates will be headache for BJP and Congress.
1 comment:
Well judged
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