First phase polls: BJD, BJP, Congress in fierce fight in Odisha's Koraput

The green valley of Koraput located in southern Odisha with over one crore electorates will go to the polls in the first phase on April 11th. It has been a BJD-Congress bastion for decades, however, the BJP hopes to change the equation after PM Modi kicked off his eastern campaign on March 29th from the home of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and NALCO.

Rahul Gandhi had already held a rally at Koraput on March 8th aiming to win back the constituency annexed by the Biju Janata Dal(BJD) MP Jhina Hikaka in 2014. The BJP has never won from this seat.

While addressing the rally, PM Modi said: "It is for the people to decide how they want themselves to be governed in the coming years because even after decades of rule by parties like the Congress and BJD, the potential of the state of Odisha is greatly under-utilised.” Clearly, the prime minister pitched his party against the might of the ruling BJD and Congress.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Koraput, a reservedST category constituency, is one of the 21 inOdisha which will witness a four-way fight between the BJD, Congress, BJP and BSP each jostling to win over the voter.

The ruling BJD had won this seat in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls as well with the Congress winning in 2004 and 1999 respectively. In fact, the Congress has won this seat successively from 1957 to 2004 when it dislodged by the Naveen Patnaik's BJD.

This time the BJD has appointed Jhina Hikaka's wife Kausalya to fight the polls in keeping with its policy of giving seats to women. Former BJD MP Jayaram Pangi will be taking on the ruling BJD in the constituency. He had earlier won the seat in 2004.

The BJP is hoping to grab votes of the dominant Kondhs to which Pangi belongs. The Kondh community comprises of over 40 per cent of the population. The BJP is also hoping that the anti-incumbency factor works in its favour.

Another factor the BJP is trying to exploit is the Saura factor. The Sura tribe which is the second largest voter in Koraput is expected to swayed by political heavyweight Giridhar Gamang, former Congress leader who joined the party two years ago. The former chief minister of Odisha Giridhar Gamang had finished runner-up in both 2009 and 2004 Lok Sabha elections when he fought for the Congress.

Local issues like the lack of implementation of MLAD funds has riled voters in Koraput which could play out against the BJD.

The Congress party has pitched Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka to take on the BJP and BJD in this constituency. It is widely expected that it will eventually come down to a triangular fight between Kausalya Hakka, Jayaram Pangi and Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka in the end.

Although the BJP has expressed confidence in Pangi with PM Modi giving him his blessings during the poll rally, however, the strength of the ruling BJD in the constituency cannot be discounted, also the fact that the Congress has always been a strongcontender would mean a close fight is on the cards.

The results to be declared on May 23rd will reveal the leader of the pack, watch this space.