May 10th 2024.
Koraput, a district in the state of Odisha, is gearing up for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on May 13. As the election season approaches, the voters of Koraput have a few key demands that they want to be addressed by the candidates. These include better drinking water facilities, fair prices for agricultural produce, and improved healthcare services.
One notable aspect of Koraput is that it has a higher number of women voters compared to male voters. Out of a total of 14.80 lakh voters, 7,73,885 are women and 7,06,777 are male. This highlights the importance of addressing issues that directly impact the lives of women in the region.
One of the major concerns of the farmers in Rayagada district, which is a part of Koraput Lok Sabha constituency, is the lack of regulation in cotton farming. Many farmers are forced to sell their produce at a lower price to traders from Andhra Pradesh, as there are no buyers in their own district. They are also seeking help from the state government to deal with the effects of natural calamities on their crops, as there is no provision for compensation like there is for paddy farmers.
The people of Koraput are also demanding better access to drinking water, especially during the rainy season when many suffer from diseases due to contaminated water sources. While some urban areas have access to piped water, most villages still rely on streams and nullahs for their water needs. Additionally, the villagers are also seeking improved healthcare facilities, as they struggle with diseases like diarrhoea during the monsoon.
The Lok Sabha seat of Koraput will see a three-cornered contest between the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Congress, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJD candidate, Kausalya Hikaka, believes that the social security schemes implemented by the state government, along with the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana, have made a positive impact on the lives of the poor in Koraput. Hikaka is also counting on the popularity of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to secure her victory.
The Congress has re-nominated its sitting MP, Saptagiri Ulaka, who is confident about retaining the seat. Ulaka, who is the son of veteran Congress leader Ramachandra Ulaka, claims to have made significant contributions towards the development of Koraput in the last five years. He points to the installation of mobile towers, an aluminium refinery, an airport, and a national highway as some of his achievements. The people of Koraput also appreciate Ulaka for providing internet connectivity to their remote villages, earning him the nickname "tower man".
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Ulaka received 34.36% of the votes in Koraput, followed closely by Hikaka at 34.03%, while BJP's Jayram Pangi secured only 11.29% of the votes. The BJP has fielded Kaleram Majhi as their candidate for the Koraput seat. Majhi is hopeful that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming rally in Nabarangpur district will have a positive impact on the adjacent Koraput constituency. He also believes that the central government's scheme of providing free rice will help him gain the support of tribal, dalit, and OBC communities.
The Koraput Lok Sabha constituency comprises seven assembly segments - Gunupur, Bisam Katak, and Rayagada in Rayagada district, and Laxmipur, Jeypore, Koraput, and Pottangi in Koraput district. With the election drawing near, all eyes are on Koraput as the people eagerly await the results, hoping for a candidate who will address their concerns and bring positive change to their district.
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