BERHAMPUR: The Chikiti Assembly segment in Ganjam district, a stronghold of the ruling BJD since 2000, is all set to witness an interesting family battle, a first in Ganjam’s political history.
Dominated by the BJD in the last two decades and half, the segment has seen a recent surge in BJP’s influence, while the Congress base stands dwindled.
This time, youth leader and industrialist Chinmayananda Srirup Deb, who carries the BJD torch, will contend against two brothers, fielded from two political parties.
Srirup, with a decade of social work in the segment and previous experience as the campaign manager for his mother Usha Devi, a six-time MLA, enjoys a strong support base. However, he will have another politically influential family to take on.
The BJP has nominated Manoranjan Dyansamantara from the segment whereas adding a twist to the plot the Congress fielded Rabindra Nath Dyansamantara as its candidate.
Manoranjan and Rabindra Nath are sons of veteran leader Chintamani Dyansamantara, a three time MLA from Chikiti. The senior Dyansamantara was elected twice from the seat - during 1980-85 and 1995-2000 - as an Independent and once on a Congress ticket in 1985-90. Chintamani was Deputy Speaker of the Odisha Assembly twice and Speaker from 1996 to 2000. The Dyansamantara family wields considerable political clout in the region.
If one goes back to the electoral history, of the 13 elections that the Chikiti Assembly segment has seen, the first six times were dominated by Congress between 1967 and 1990. Janata’s Jagannath Pati won in 1977 while Congress was victorious thrice. Congress (R) and Independent candidates won once each. Of the six, Chintamani won twice - once as an Independent and another on a Congress ticket.
It was Usha Devi who as a Janata Dal candidate put a stop to Chintamani’s run in 1990. After that, the segment saw six more elections. Barring in 1995 when Chintamani won again as an Independent, Usha Devi went on to represent the seat as a BJD candidate a record five times on the trot, clinching a complete hold over Chikiti’s electoral battleground.
As Congress nominee, Rabindra Nath leverages his father’s political legacy and pocket vote base but BJP’s Manoranjan has experience of contesting elections since 2014. Both Srirup and Rabindra Nath, though, are newcomers to the electoral arena. Despite octogenarian Chintamani’s withdrawal from active electoral politics, his backing may revive the Congress’ former glory. Acknowledging the familial rivalry, Congress’ Ganjam district (east) president Deepak Patnaik it will be an ideological contest over personal relations.
Rabindra Nath asserts that “it will be a contest between two ideologies and not between two brothers” while Manoranjan points to his active political involvement and dismisses any family interference in his candidacy.
Father Chintamani clarifies that his allegiance will be with the Congress while respecting his sons’ individual decisions.
The dynamic segment, comprising Chikiti and Patrapur blocks, has seen a shift in loyalties with Srirup’s candidature, garnering support from erstwhile BJP and Congress supporters. As campaigning intensifies, Usha Devi lends her support to her son, setting the stage for a compelling electoral showdown.