The Jeypore Assembly segment will see a fight between Tara Prasad Bahinipati of Congress and BJD’s Rabi Narayan Nanda. The two are the most familiar faces in the political circle here.
The segment was won by non-Congress MLAs in 1951, 1957, 1967, 1971 elections, but Congress candidates won the seat in 1974, 1977, 1980, 1985, 1990 and 1995, making it a Congress fort. Lack of development in the segment in the last three decades of Congress rule, particularly during the tenure of former finance minister Raghunath Patnaik, resulted in an anti-incumbency factor against the party and gave a scope to BJD to win the 2000 General Election.
BJD leader Nanda became the first MLA. He continued winning the seat in 2004 and 2009 as internal bickering in the Jeypore unit of Congress went in his favour.
During last election, Nanda defeated Bahinipati and now, both the leaders have locked horns again.
Bahinipati fought the 2009 General Election as BJP candidate after Congress denied him ticket. Apparently, he got over 45,000 votes then just eight days after joining BJP.
This time, he is fighting for Congress which already has a secured vote bank and this could prove a threat for the BJD.
While Bahinipati is seeking votes on the basis of his association with locals, Nanda is wooing voters with the development work that he initiated in the last 15 years.
Political experts said people are judging candidates by their popularity, credibility and not by the name of the party that they are fighting from.
On the other hand, BJD leader Nanda’s association is limited to just a handful of leaders and workers resulting in widening of the gap between him and party workers at grassroots. Congress seems to be encashing on this gap. BJP, which has little presence in Jeypore seat, has fielded Brughu Buxipatra.