Shifting political landscape in Jharsuguda as leaders switch parties and tensions rise before bypoll
Jharsuguda: The political atmosphere in Jharsuguda and Bhubaneswar is experiencing a significant upswing as the Jharsuguda bypoll draws closer. The political parties, including the BJP, BJD, and Congress, are using all their resources to campaign for their respective candidates. However, recent events have sparked violent clashes between the BJP and BJD workers in Jharsuguda, causing political turmoil in the region.
The situation in Jharsuguda turned tense during BJP candidate Tankadhar Tripathy’s campaign in Ward No. 20 Mangal Bazar when BJD workers staged a protest against him. The BJP workers retaliated by protesting against the BJD’s behavior and surrounding the Jharsuguda town police station. This incident has further exacerbated the already charged political environment in the region.
Meanwhile, BJP representatives from Bhubaneswar have met with the Chief Electoral Officer to discuss their concerns about the law and order situation in the state. They have also accused the ruling BJD of running a “Gundaraj” or anarchy in the state. To ensure fair and peaceful elections, the BJP has demanded the deployment of central forces in Jharsuguda.
Adding to the political turmoil, BJP’s Jharsuguda district president, Mangal Sahoo, has resigned from the party and joined the BJD. Sahu, who had served the BJP for several years, expressed his dissatisfaction with the party, citing neglect from the leadership. While the BJP state president downplayed the impact of Sahu’s departure, it is a significant political development that could have implications for the party’s performance in the upcoming by-poll.
In another twist, Trinath Goyal, a BJP leader, has also left the party to join the BJD, and tribal leader Mahendra Naik, who was a Congress candidate in 2019, has also left the Congress. These frequent changes in party affiliations, coupled with the recent clashes between party workers, indicate a shifting political landscape in Jharsuguda, which could significantly impact the poll’s outcome.
