A significant showdown is looming in Odisha’s Kendrapara Lok Sabha constituency, historically dominated by the legacy of Biju Patnaik, the father of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The upcoming election in this coastal town, a stronghold of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), has escalated into a battle of prestige between the ruling BJD and its primary rival, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Legacy and Current Dynamics
Biju Patnaik had clinched victory in the Kendrapara parliamentary seat three times, in 1977, 1980, and 1984. Since 1998, the BJD has maintained a firm grip on this constituency. As Odisha gears up for simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls, Kendrapara is slated to vote on 1st June, comprising seven assembly segments, all of which were secured by the BJD in 2019.
Key Contenders and Political Maneuvering
In this contest, the BJD has nominated Anshuman Mohanty, the son of Nalini Kanta Mohanty, a former close associate of Biju Patnaik and a former minister in Naveen’s cabinet. Mohanty’s switch from the Congress to the BJD just before the polls has stirred mixed reactions among the electorate and BJD supporters, despite his familial ties to the party’s legacy.
Facing Mohanty is Baijayant Jay Panda, the BJP’s national vice president and a two-time MP from Kendrapara, who had previously won the seat in 2009 and 2014 under the BJD banner. After a falling out with Naveen Patnaik, Panda joined the BJP in 2019. In the previous Lok Sabha elections, he was defeated by Anubhav Mohanty, an Oriya actor, and former BJD candidate, by a substantial margin. Mohanty recently switched allegiance to the BJP, citing dissatisfaction with the BJD.
Electoral Landscape and Public Sentiment
Duryodhan Parida, a retired English professor at Kendrapara Autonomous College, remarked that the upcoming election poses a tough challenge for contenders in Kendrapara. He noted a perceptible shift in the BJP’s popularity compared to 2019, alongside growing anti-incumbency sentiments against the BJD. However, Parida highlighted the BJP’s organizational limitations in matching the BJD’s influence, while also pointing out the failure of the Congress to capitalize on anti-incumbency sentiments.
Strategies and Campaign Dynamics
The unpopularity of Anubhav Mohanty, the incumbent MP who defected to the BJP, has cast a shadow over the BJD’s prospects in Kendrapara. Meanwhile, the BJP has witnessed a surge in popularity since 2019, bolstered by Panda’s elevated position within the party hierarchy. Panda’s significant roles within the BJP and the anticipated support from Prime Minister Narendra Modi indicate a formidable challenge to the BJD’s supremacy in Kendrapara.
Reflecting on the electoral landscape, Baijayant Jay Panda underscored the BJP’s substantial growth in Odisha and expressed confidence in an upward trajectory for the party. He cited surveys projecting an increase in BJP’s seat count, attributing it to momentum and widespread support for PM Modi’s leadership.
A Symbolic Contest
Amidst the electoral fervor, residents of Kendrapara voice concerns about absentee representation by the incumbent MP and express grievances that could dent the BJD’s image. The BJD’s strategic move to field candidates with familial ties to former party leaders aims to leverage sympathy and legacy support, potentially influencing the outcome in Kendrapara.
As campaigning intensifies, both the BJP and the BJD are leaving no stone unturned to secure victory. The BJP’s strengthened ground presence and visible campaign efforts indicate a spirited challenge to the incumbent BJD. Conversely, the BJD’s calculated nomination strategy seeks to capitalize on familial legacies and historical affiliations to retain its stronghold in Kendrapara.
The electoral battle in Kendrapara symbolizes more than just a political contest; it embodies a clash of legacies and ideologies, with far-reaching implications for Odisha’s political landscape.