KENDRAPARA: The election to Patkura Assembly constituency on Saturday ended peacefully barring stray incidents of violence with 65 per cent of voters exercising their franchise.
There were reports of group clashes between supporters of BJP and BJD at Karalipatrana, Kuseapala, Padmapur, Indalo, Teheda, Bilabalarampur and other villages in the district.
In Kuseapala, tension mounted as some BJD supporters were allegedly forcing voters to cast votes in favour of the party candidate.
However, security forces rushed to the booth to restore the law and order.
After casting his vote in Talakusam village, BJP candidate Bijay Mohapatra said, “Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik along with more than 100 BJD MLAs and many ministers campaigned against me. But the voters are determined to teach BJD a lesson.”
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Similarly, BJD candidate Sabitri Agrawalla exuded confidence of her victory.
“My husband Bed Prakash Agrawalla had nurtured the constituency for more than 40 years. He launched many developmental works. I would like to continue his legacy for which the voters will elect me to the Assembly,” she said.
The election to the seat was postponed as BJD candidate Bed Prakash died on 20 April, nine days before the polls.
Though the contest is expected to be between the BJP and the BJD, the Congress is also optimistic of its chances.
Its candidate Jayant Mohanty said, “Both BJP and BJD are sailing on the same boat. Recently, the BJD supported BJP candidate in the Rajya Sabha poll. Voters of Patkura will reject both the parties.”
Kendrapara SP Niti Sekhar said, “Around 65 per cent voters cast their votes. Polling ended peacefully. Security forces were deployed in all the 309 polling booths.”
The election has assumed significance because of the determined effort of Mohapatra to enter Assembly after 19 years despite the all outbid by the ruling BJD to defeat him.
Besides a large number of ministers and MLAs from the ruling party, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik campaigned in the constituency for two days seeking votes for the BJD candidate.
Mohapatra was elected for the first time to the Assembly in a by-election in 1980 from Patkura on a Janata Dal (S) after the seat was vacated by Biju Patnaik.
After that he represented Patkura in the Assembly for three consecutive times, first in 1985 as a Janata Party member and thereafter on Janata Dal ticket.
He was Irrigation Minister from 1990 to 1995 in the Biju Patnaik Cabinet.
He was the most powerful minister (known as Super Chief Minister) then.
However, he could not contest the 2000 election as his ticket was withdrawn at the last minute by the BJD of which he was a founder member.
He unsuccessfully contested elections from Patkura in 2004 and 2009 and from Mahakalapada seat in 2014.