May 17th 2024.
The Sambalpur Lok Sabha constituency in Odisha is facing many challenges, with unemployment and the distress sale of paddy being the most pressing issues. The upcoming showdown between BJP's Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and BJD's influential General Secretary Pranab Prakash Das has captured the attention of the region. Both candidates are focusing on the needs of farmers and weavers, who play a crucial role in the area that covers the Hirakud reservoir catchment area and has a thriving handloom industry.
The majority of Sambalpur's population, which is concentrated in five of its seven assembly constituencies, relies on agriculture or the harvesting of Kendu and Sal leaves for their livelihoods. Pradhan, who hails from Talcher town in Angul district and is the son of former Union Minister Debendra Pradhan, is contesting elections after a gap of 15 years. His last unsuccessful attempt was in 2009 when he ran for the assembly elections in Parlahara.
On the other hand, Das is the sitting MLA of Jajpur seat in the coastal region and is known for his influential role in the party. The prestigious Sambalpur constituency has been represented by BJD three times in a row from 1998 to 2004, during its alliance with BJP. However, in the past three elections, voters have elected candidates from Congress, BJD, and BJP respectively.
Pradhan, who has been a central minister since 2014, is confident of a victory, banking on the initiatives of the Union government. "We are optimistic that people will vote for the lotus symbol. The BJP-led Centre has established IIM Sambalpur and people are happy with the developmental work of the Union government," he said. On the other hand, Das, a three-term Jajpur MLA and the son of former Janata Dal state president Ashok Dash, believes that people have benefited from the BJD government's schemes for farmers, weavers, students, youths, and women. "The BJD government's Kalia scheme for farmers is very popular in this region," he said.
Although there are 14 candidates in the fray, the main contest is between Pradhan and Das. Congress has nominated former BJD MP and ex-minister Nagendra Pradhan, who joined the party a few days before filing his nomination. The Congress had initially named Dulal Chandra Pradhan as their candidate but later changed it to Nagendra Pradhan, who had won from the constituency in 2014 on a BJD ticket. Aggrieved by the party's decision, Dulal Chandra Pradhan joined the BJP. Nagendra Pradhan has also been elected from the Athamalik assembly segment three times, in 1990 on a Janata Dal ticket and in 2004 and 2014 as a BJD candidate. He has also served in the Naveen Patnaik cabinet.
The Sambalpur parliamentary constituency was reorganised in 2009 and comprises various assembly constituencies in Sambalpur, Angul, and Deogarh districts. In the 2019 elections, BJD won four assembly seats, while BJP won three. The previous three Lok Sabha elections saw three different party candidates being elected from Sambalpur. In 2009, Congress won by a margin of 14,874 votes, while BJD won in 2014 by 30,574 votes. In 2019, BJP won by a margin of only 9,162 votes.
As the candidates from the three major parties campaign in the scorching heat, they are reaching out to representatives of various communities, entrepreneurs, artists, and sportspersons, hoping to secure their votes. The Sambalpur constituency is eagerly awaiting the election results, which will determine who will represent them in the Lok Sabha and address the pressing issues of unemployment and distress sale of paddy.
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