Interesting contest on cards in Kalahandi

Expressbuzz, April 6, 2009

BHAWANIPATNA: Two reserve Assembly constituencies of Kalahandi - Bhawanipatna (SC) and Lanjigarh (ST) - and one general seat - Narla - are witnessing high profile campaigning this time. These three constituencies are also affected by delimitation. Kesinga has lost its identity this time. While Narla and Bhawanipatna constituencies have been recast, Lanjigarh has been newly carved.

Bhawanipatna Assembly constituency now consists of Bhawanipatna block and a major portion of Kesinga block which includes Bhawanipatna municipality and Kesinga NAC. Eight candidates are in the field. Former minister Pradipta Kumar Naik of BJP is the key contestant who is contesting for the fourth time. BJD has fielded a fresher Jayanta Naik, who even before being nominated for the seat, was not a party member. He came to limelight for throwing leaflets in the Assembly and shouting slogans against Government and Vedanta. He was also associated with student Congress.

His candidature has caused resentment among party activists. Even many workers, including some of the aspirants, resigned from BJD recently. Dusmanta Naik of Congress is mostly dependant on the support of Bhakta Das and anti-incumbency factor against Pradipta Naik.

Lanjigarh (ST) Assembly constituency consists of Lanjigarh block, Thuamul Rampur block, Jaipatna block and eight GPs of Bhawanipatna block adjacent to Bhawanipatna town.

Out of eight candidates in the field, Balabhadra Majhi of BJD is the only experienced candidate who was elected to the Assembly in 1995, 2000 and 2004 elections and was a minister. Balabhadra is known as a strong supporter of Vedanta and tried to built his support base through periphery development activities of VAL.

Balabhadra belongs to Kandha (ST) community and hails from Lanjigarh block and so does Congress candidate Sibaji Majhi. Sibaji will be dependant on the campaigning of Congress MP candidate Bhakta Das. Whereas BJP candidate Bijaya Disari hails from Jaipatna block and belongs to Bhatara (ST) community.

There may be polarisation of Bhatara community votes in his favour. He may also garner a good percentage of votes from Thuamul Rampur block. However, in the initial stage Balabhadra of BJD is said to be having advantage.

Narla Assembly constituency (general) has 12 candidates fighting a multi-corned contest. Prominent among them are former minister Bhupinder Singh of Congress, Srikanta Hota of BJP, Santosh Mund - an Independent and Kailash Jain of BSP. The seat has gone to NCP following seat-sharing arrangement with BJD.

Santosh Mund is a serious threat for both Congress and BJP. Incidentally he was an ally of Bhakta Das during Das’ anti-VAL activities and also said to be close to BJD district president Kiran Singhdeo. Mund is also a social activist.