BJD could not repeat panchayat leads to ULBs

By Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: Halfway via the campaigning for the city native physique (ULB) elections scheduled on March 24, the ruling BJD appears to have realised that issues is probably not simple for the social gathering because it was the case within the panchayat polls.

After shedding to BJD in its western Odisha stronghold within the panchayat polls, the BJP has began its marketing campaign for the ULB elections with a renewed vigour to make its presence felt within the space. The Congress presence will, nonetheless, be restricted to some pockets together with south Odisha districts and Balangir in western Odisha.

The BJD can also be going to face a spirited problem within the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), with the BJP marketing campaign being spearheaded by Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi. While the ruling social gathering is banking on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s picture and welfare measures introduced by the federal government via various freebies earlier than the announcement of the ULB elections.

Besides, the BJD can also be following the observe of placing MLAs answerable for completely different areas because it had accomplished efficiently within the panchayat and different elections. Sources mentioned that eight MLAs have been put answerable for 24 wards in Bhubaneswar North Assembly constituency whereas seven legislators have been given cost of 19 wards of Bhubaneswar central constituency. Similarly, eight MLAs have been put answerable for 24 wards in Ekamra constituency.

However, Cuttack will witness a triangular contest between BJD, BJP and Congress. While the Congress marketing campaign is being spearheaded by Mohammad Moquim, the social gathering MLA from Barabati-Cuttack, the BJD marketing campaign is being dealt with by social gathering mayor candidate Subash Chandra Singh with help from district unit leaders. BJP has fielded Ollywood star Sritam Das for the publish of mayor from CMC.

BJP leaders are hopeful of profitable chairpersons in at the least 30 ULBs whereas the BJD has stopped predicting numbers on this election. Freebies can not affect city voters who’re educated, deputy chief of the BJP legislature social gathering Bishnu Charan Das mentioned.Government chief whip Pramila Mallick, nonetheless, dismissed optimism within the BJP camp and mentioned that the social gathering will do very effectively within the ULB elections.