Jharsuguda: The upcoming by-election in Jharsuguda is crucial for the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), and the party is leaving no stone unturned to ensure its success. BJD Supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, is expected to campaign for the party’s candidate, Deepali Das, in the by-election scheduled for May 10, with counting on May 13. While Naveen has campaigned in several elections before through virtual mode, it is not clear whether he will come to Jharsuguda this time or campaign virtually.
The BJD has already elected over 100 leaders in various retreats across the four blocks of the Jharsuguda assembly constituency and one municipality ward. These leaders have held meetings at the ward level and are now working to increase the party’s vote bank.
However, the ongoing controversy surrounding the murder case of Naba Das, who is the father of BJD candidate Deepali Das and a former health minister, has made the BJD cautious about the potential negative impact on voters. To win votes for the party candidate, Naveen is expected to visit Jharsuguda for a day on May 7 or 8, which will undoubtedly boost the party’s prospects in the by-election. Naveen Patnaik is one of the 40 star campaigners for the by-election and has already campaigned for the recently concluded Padampur by-poll.
The Jharsuguda assembly constituency has a total of 2.21 lakh registered voters, with the Jharsuguda municipality having the highest number of voters at 71,113. The Laikera, Jharsuguda, Kolabira, and Kirmira blocks have 39,703, 38,546, 37,810, and 33,901 registered voters, respectively. The voting will take place in 253 polling centers over the next ten days.
The party’s efforts to increase its vote bank, combined with the support of its star campaigners, will be crucial in securing victory in the by-poll. A win in the by-election in Jharsuguda would help the BJD to strengthen its position in the state. In this context, Naveen Patnaik’s expected visit to Jharsuguda could prove to be a decisive factor in determining the party’s success in the election.
