Bhubaneswar, April 20: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is currently facing dissidence in Rajnagar, where disappointed ticket aspirants have raised a banner of revolt against the party’s official candidate, Lalit Behera. Supporters of former MLA Alekha Jena and senior party leader Ajay Behera recently burnt an effigy of Lalit at Rajnagar market, expressing strong disapproval of the party’s choice.
The other aspirants have stated that it is improper for the BJP to give a ticket to a political newcomer while ignoring grassroots leaders who have worked hard to build the party in Rajnagar for over two decades.
Local BJP leaders have even threatened to quit the party if the candidate is not changed in Rajnagar. Political observers believe that if the rebellion by party leaders is not quelled, it may adversely affect the BJP’s prospects in Rajnagar, which is scheduled for polls on June 1.
Meanwhile, BJD has today declared Ganeswar Behera as its candidate from Kendrapara assembly. Ganeswar had recently quit Congress and joined BJD.
On the other hand, former Kendrapara BJD MLA Sipra Mallick on Thursday resigned from the ruling party and joined the Congress in the hope of contesting from Kendrapara. Sipra was elected from Kendrapara Assembly seat in 2009 on a BJD ticket. Her father Prahlad Mallick was a veteran Congress leader who served as a minister in the state.
The BJP, on the other hand, is adopting a wait-and-watch approach, closely monitoring the moves of turncoat leaders. The party is likely to announce its candidate from Kendrapara after the other two parties declare their nominees. It will be interesting to see how these developments unfold in the upcoming elections.
