PARADIP: With the election fever hitting a peak ahead of the second and final phase of the Assembly polls in West Bengal, political parties and candidates are arranging transport for migrant Bengalis residing in different parts of the port town to enable them to cast their votes back home.
Nearly 10,000 to 20,000 Bengalis reside in Paradip, Kujang and Erasama in Jagatsinghpur district, as well as in other areas of Kendrapara district. Though many had migrated to the Paradip region for fishing activities, they are now engaged in various industries as daily wage earners and other workers.
A sizeable Bengali population is also involved in port-related activities and small businesses in Paradip but remains eligible to vote in their home state. During elections in West Bengal, they return to exercise their voting rights.
Since the special intensive revision saw the deletion of 91 lakh names in West Bengal, political groups are leaving nothing to chance to ensure voter turnout. Candidates and their supporters have been making efforts to transport Bengali voters from Paradip and nearby areas to their respective constituencies. Buses and other vehicles have been mobilised over the past few days for this purpose.
While some voters expressed enthusiasm about participating in the democratic process, others raised concerns over the long journey and logistical challenges involved.
Jagannath Rao, a councillor, said many Bengali voters possess valid documents such as voter IDs, birth certificates and ration cards in this locality, enabling them to vote in Odisha, while others without voter IDs here have gone to West Bengal to cast their votes. “Some voters have been leaving for West Bengal since last week,” he added.
Santosh Maity, a resident of Purba Medinipur, works as a daily wage labourer for a construction company in Paradip. “I will go to West Bengal to cast my vote on April 29 after consulting my family members,” he said.
Another voter, requesting anonymity, said, “We are travelling to West Bengal by a bus arranged by a supporter of a particular MLA candidate, but I will vote for the most suitable candidate after reaching home.”