Umerkote Assembly constituency will see an interesting fight this General Election.
BJP made its appearance in the Assembly constituency for the first time in 1985, but its candidate Purna Chandra Pujari finished second. In 1999, BJP entered into an alliance with the newly-formed BJD and Umerkote seat was allotted to it. In 2000 elections, BJP’s candidate Dharmu Gond was defeated by Parama Pujari of Congress.
Dharmu won the seat in 2004 elections though the BJP’s vote share came own to 38.29 per cent. In 2009 elections, BJP had to fight both Congress and BJD. Dharmu was defeated in the election and in the 2011 bypoll, he unsuccessfully contested the seat. Though BJP nominated Dharmu again for 2014 elections, his demise a few months back dwindled the party hopes. The saffron party has now fielded Nityananda Gond from the Umerkote seat. Reena Majhi, Dharmu’s widow, has also entered the fray as Independent with a hope of sympathy votes.
Four-time winner from Umerkote, Parama Pujari of Congress was first elected in 1980 election and retained it in 1985. Except for 1990 election, she managed to win the subsequent elections but was defeated in 2004. Delimitation soon after 2009 election came as a bad news for the Congress as a major vote bank of it went to the newly created Jharigam segment.
In the 2011 by-election, Congress gave ticket to Jotindra Gond, a Youth Congress activist. Though Jotindra could not win, he is again in fray as the party candidate.
In 1990 election, Janata Dal candidate Gurubaru Majhi won the seat but failed to retain it in 1995. After formation of BJD, all leaders of Janata Dal merged with it. But, as the seat was allotted to BJP under the alliance agreement, the BJD remained dormant with limited activities for a period of nine years. It became active only during 2008 when the then Zilla Parishad member Jagabandhu Majhi joined BJD.
After the BJD-BJP alliance was broken in 2009, the BJD fielded Jagabandhu as its candidate who snatched the seat from BJP. In 2011 by-election, BJD fielded Jagabandhu’s confidante Subas Gond. BJD not only retained the seat but also its vote share further went up to 45.13 per cent. Now in a six corner contest, Subas is in the fray as BJD candidate.
Sanraj Gond, who failed to get BJD ticket is also in the fray as an Odisha Jana Morcha candidate for Umerkote seat. Similarly Damburudhar Majhi, the brother of late Jagabandhu, who was an aspirant for BJD ticket has also joined the poll battle as Independent. Political observers feel the two are likely to cut the support base of BJD.
Subas, Nityananda, Jotindra and Sanraj belong to Maoist infested Raighar block which is having the highest number of voters in Umerkote Assembly constituency.