ATHAGARH: After delimitation Athagarh Assembly constituency has assumed great significance. In post-Independence period, representatives from this Assembly segment had held important portfolios in State Council of Ministers.
Representatives like Radhanath Rath, JB Patnaik and Ranendra Pratap Swain were Education minister, chief minister and Science and Technology minister respectively while representing Athagarh. This time veterans as well as young leaders are trying their best to bag tickets of various parties.
Sitting MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain has returned to the Assembly from this constituency four consecutive terms. But political observers are skeptical about his candidature this time. Another stalwart Bhagirathi Kar, who is a native of Athagarh and kin of BJD strategist Pyarimohan Mohapatra, is in the race to get party ticket. The names of Manas Kumar Bastia and Ram Narayan Mohanty are also doing the rounds for BJD ticket.
From Congress, realtor Piyush Mohanty, youth leader Rajendra Mishra, retired chief engineer Bichitrananda Muduli and former MP (Rajya Sabha) Subash Mohanty are in the race for party ticket. Piyush told this paper that since he is in direct contact with the people and involved in activities of Congress for past 15 years he should get the ticket. Youth leader Rajendra Mishra said he is hopeful of getting party ticket. Bichitrananda Muduli and Subash Mohanty claimed that they are front-runners for party ticket.