Bhubaneswar, Feb 6: Orissa is poised for an interesting battle for ballot this time around with many colourful personalities in the fray. As political stalwarts, their relatives, Rajas, Ranis and chameleons have entered the poll arena, high drama is bound to be enacted in the run up to the polls.In Orissa, if one is poised to set a sort of record in winning Lok Sabha elections another is determined to go down in the electoral history as the greatest loser. The soft-spoken tribal leader from Nawarangpur, Khagapati Pradhani, has an enviable record of winning eight elections in row. The Congress leader is seeking re-election for the ninth time. Pradhani is closely followed by the former Union minister, Giridhar Gomane so far as winning elections are concerned. The tribal politician whose prime passion is music is in the fray to make it for the eight time in a row from neighbouring Koraput.
If Pradhani and Gomang are known for their victories, K Shyambabu Subudhi has a dubious record of losing elections.Better known as the Dhartipakad of Orissa, Subudhi has lost as many as 20 elections including civic polls. Subudhi, who used to contest as an independent, however, has a banner, Ajeya Bharat Party, this time. He has filed his papers for Berhampur seat.
Relatives of political stalwarts contesting elections is not new to Orissa. But, this time as many as three sons of former Chief Ministers are in the poll fray. Late Biju Patnaik's son, Navin Patnaik is seeking re-election from Aska. He is leading the newly formed Biju Janata Dal at the hustings. His party's two other candidates Tathagat Satpathy, son of Nandini Satpathy, and Bhartuhari Mahatab, son of Harekrushan Mahtab, are contesting from Dhenkanal and Cuttack respectively.
It is not only the sons who are in demand. Son-in-law, grand-daughter-in-law and wife of chief minister are in the fray. Orissa chief minister JB Patnaik's son-in-law Soumya Ranjan Patnaik is the Congress nominee for Bhubaneswar sent. Chief minister's wife Jayanti Patnaik, a RajyaSabha member, is seeking entry to Lok Sabha from Berhampur seat. Former Chief Minister, RN Singhdeo's grand dauthter-in-law Sangeeta Kumari Singdeo is the BJP nominee for Bolangir seat.Also figures in the list of relatives are Pinaki Mishra (Son of former Assam Governor, Lok Nath Mishra), Ranjib Biswal (son of Orissa deputy chief minister Basanta Kumar Biswal), Trilochan Kanungo, a relative of JB Patnaik, and Prabhat Samantray, (brother-in-law of former minister Nalini Mohanty). With relatives galore in the poll fray, party line is bound to be blurred during the elections.
With chameleons ruling the roost at the election time, ideology has taken a back seat. Former Union minister Bhakta Charan Das and state minister Mustafiz Ahemed, who have built up their political career on anti-Congressism, are contesting the elections on Congress symbol from Kalahandi and Cuttack.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
