May 15th 2024.
Kendrapara, a coastal district in Odisha, is facing some major issues that need to be addressed. The lack of industries, high unemployment rates, and skilled workers migrating to other places are the main concerns in this region. The upcoming Lok Sabha election in this constituency is gaining a lot of attention as BJP national vice president, Baijayant Panda, is going up against BJD's Anshuman Mohanty. In the past, Kendrapara has sent some prominent political figures like Biju Patnaik and Rabi Ray to the Lok Sabha. However, this time the focus is on the intense competition between Panda and Mohanty, with Congress candidate Sidharth Swarup Das also in the running. The election is scheduled to take place on June 1.
Kendrapara is primarily an agrarian area, where farming is the main source of income for the people. Despite being represented by political heavyweights in the past, this district still lacks a presence in the industrial sector. However, the Naveen Patnaik government recently approved a proposal by ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel to set up a mega steel project worth Rs 1,02,275 crore in the Mahakalpara block of Kendrapara. This decision has raised hopes for industrial development in the region.
One of the major issues faced by Kendrapara is the migration of skilled workers. Due to the limited employment opportunities in the area, many skilled plumbers have left to work in other countries. They are highly sought after for their expertise and efficiency, much like the nurses from Kerala. This trend of plumbers leaving for overseas opportunities is a recurring one, and it has had a significant impact on the economy of Kendrapara.
The district has a lot of potential for ecotourism, with attractions like the Bhitarkanika National Park, Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, and pristine beaches. However, this potential has not been fully utilized to boost the local economy. This is a cause for concern for many residents, as they feel that there has been little progress in terms of job opportunities and overall development in the area. "Whoever wins the election, I doubt there will be any significant change in Kendrapara. Though there has been some improvement in infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and railways, the youth still struggle to find employment," lamented Subhash Chandra Mohanty, an elderly voter from Kendrapara town.
Baijayant Panda, an industrialist, has been elected twice to the Lok Sabha from Kendrapara, in 2009 and 2014, on a BJD ticket. He was also a two-time BJD Rajya Sabha MP from 2000 to 2009. However, he was suspended from the party in 2019 on charges of anti-party activities, and later he resigned from both the party and Lok Sabha. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, he lost to BJD's Anubhav Mohanty by a considerable margin of 1,81,483 votes. Anubhav Mohanty, a former MLA who had defected from Congress to BJD, is now facing a tough competition from Panda.
The third candidate in the running is Sidharth Swarup Das from Congress, who has no prior experience in state or national elections. However, political observers believe that the main contest will be between Panda and Mohanty. Mohanty is the son of veteran politician late Nalinikanta Mohanty, who was expelled from BJD in 2000 by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The Kendrapara Lok Sabha constituency comprises of seven assembly segments - Aul, Mahakalpada, Rajnagar, Kendrapara, Patkura, Kisannagar, and Mahanga. Interestingly, all the assembly seats in this constituency are currently held by BJD. The constituency has a total of 17,91,112 voters, including 42,181 first-time voters. Out of these, 9,26,275 are male voters, and 8,64,837 are female voters.
In the past, Kendrapara has been represented by some prominent leaders like Biju Patnaik and Rabi Ray, who have won multiple elections from this constituency. This time, as the election approaches, all eyes are on the intense competition between the two main candidates - Baijayant Panda and Anshuman Mohanty. It remains to be seen who will come out victorious and lead Kendrapara towards progress and development.
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