May 10th 2024.
Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha, is gearing up for the first phase of the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections on May 13. While the city itself will go to polls in the third phase on May 25, one particular Lok Sabha seat holds a special significance in this election - the Cuttack seat. This seat, which is one of the 21 parliamentary constituencies in the state, has a rich history as it was the capital of Odisha for almost 900 years before Bhubaneswar took over.
The Cuttack Lok Sabha seat consists of seven Assembly segments - Baramba, Banki, Athagarh, Barabati Cuttack, Choudwar Cuttack, Cuttack Sadar, and Khandapara. The main contenders in this election are Bhartruhari Mahtab, a Six-time MP who has switched from the BJD to the BJP, and Santrupt Misra, a former HR head of the Aditya Birla Group, who is representing the BJD. A prominent Congress leader, Suresh Mohapatra, is also in the fray.
Interestingly, Misra is the richest candidate among all the Lok Sabha aspirants in the state, with declared assets of approximately Rs 461 crore. This has certainly caught the attention of voters and political pundits alike. In the previous election, Mahtab emerged victorious by defeating the BJP candidate and former IPS officer Prakash Mishra by a margin of 1,21,201 votes.
To gain a deeper understanding of the ongoing election and the candidates, OrissaPOST spoke to poll watchers and residents of Cuttack City. According to Pradip Kumar Das, a senior journalist and political analyst, all three major parties have strong and weak points in this election. Mahtab, who has been a veteran leader and has won the Best Parliamentarian award, has recently become more vocal about BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. This has brought him closer to the BJP, who have now given him a ticket and may even consider a ministerial berth for him if he wins.
However, despite being an MP for six consecutive terms, Mahtab has not been able to establish a strong base in the constituency and has largely relied on the support of BJD MLA candidates for his victories. On the other hand, Misra, who is a newcomer in politics, has the advantage of BJD's strong organizational base and his own resourcefulness. Meanwhile, Congress candidate Suresh Mohapatra, a veteran leader, is trying to capitalize on the rumors of a BJD-BJP alliance, which has made some voters lean towards the Congress party.
Political analyst Sudarshan Chhotoray believes that Misra is heavily relying on Naveen Patnaik's clean image, efficient administration, and the support of thousands of party cadres. On the other hand, Mahtab, who is the son of former Odisha chief minister and former governor of Maharashtra Harekrushna Mahtab, was once a strong BJD loyalist but recently switched to the BJP after internal assessments suggested a change in the candidate.
Jagannath Mohanty, a lawyer based in Cuttack, predicts that the main battle will be between BJD and BJP as the Congress does not have much influence in the city. He also points out that the local Congress organization is divided due to internal conflicts, which may make it difficult for them to win. While some development work has been carried out in recent years, Cuttack residents still face daily issues such as mosquito menace, water logging, and dug up roads. Social activist and resident Prakash Panda believes that Mahtab's past developmental works may work in his favor despite switching parties, and the image and support of Prime Minister Modi will also play a role. However, Misra's deep pockets may not be enough to secure him a win as a newcomer in the political arena.
Another resident, Dr. Subasish Behera, highlights the issue of city infrastructure and its impact on the daily lives of locals. He urges the MP candidates to take these issues seriously and come up with solutions that will benefit the citizens. With the election just around the corner, all eyes are on Cuttack and the candidates vying for its Lok Sabha seat.
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