EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

RAIRAKHOL, SEPTEMBER 18: THE guessing game has begun in Orissa just as campaigning for the September 20 by-poll drew to an end. It is being seen as a litmus test for the Naveen Patnaik government.

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is trying to retain the seat while faction-ridden Congress is testing its popularity. As for the OGP, it is its maiden venture into elections.

The by-poll was necessitated following the death of sitting BJD MLA Duryodhan Sohela. Six candidates, including former Rajya Sabha member Sanatan Bisi (BJD), Ashok Beria (Cong), Binod Mahanand (OGP) and Debki Mahanand (Nationalist Congress Party) are in the fray.

The BJD’s seriousness can be gauged from the fact that a host of senior leaders have camped at the constituency for weeks. While the Acharya brothers, Excise Minister Anand Acharya and BJD secretary general Prasanna Acharya are overall incharge, several other senior leaders, including Energy Minister A.U. Singhdeo, Finance Minister R.K. Patnaik, Minister of State for Sports and Youth Services Ranendra Pratap Swain, chairman of the Western Orissa Development Council Ainthu Sahu, Prafulla Ghadei and Damodar Rout camped in the constituency. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also campaigned for two days.

President of the Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee J.B. Patnaik, former chief minister Hemananda Biswal, former Union minister Krupasindhu Bhoi and former minister Jagannath Patnaik led the Congress campaign while OGP president Bijay Mahapatra led the campaign for his party.

In contrast, the BJP maintained a low profile throughout. The BJD, however, maintained that BJP’s rebel leader — as also an aspirant from here — Nauri Nayak has also campaigned for their candidate.
The second dam proposal on Mahanadi floated by the Congress, effective tackling of relief and restoration measures after the supercyclone and this year’s unprecedented flood and the drive against corruption launched by Patnaik were the main issues raised by the BJD while the Opposition Congress and OGP tried to exploit
the ‘all-round failure’ of the government.

The recurring deaths of tribals in the backward Rayagada and Gajapati districts came as a godsend for the Opposition which was grappling for issues.