Will KIIT Founder And Sitting MP Achyuta Samanta Maintain Kandhamal’s History Of BJD In Power? (image-X/achyuta_samanta)

Prof. Achyuta Samanta is seeking a second consecutive term with his renomination by the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) for Odisha’s Kandhamal Lok Sabha constituency. However, the KIIT founder has formidable opponents such as the BJP”s Sukanta Panigrahi and Congress’ Amir Chand Nayak.

The Kandhamal Lok Sabha constituency has been the BJD’s bastion ever since it was formed in 2008. The parliamentary constituency comprises Vidhan Sabhas such as Baliguda (ST reserved), G. Udayagiri (ST), Phulbani (ST), Kantamal, Boudh, Daspalla (SC), and Bhanjanagar.

Prof. Samanta gained popularity through his identity as the founder of respected educational institutions such as the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) and the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), which offer quality education and living free of charge to children from tribal communities. Additionally, the initiatives to the development of infrastructure and welfare programs by the BJD government have further helped Samanta carve his position within the Kandhamal constituency.

The educated and well-respected Prof. Samanta has several accolades, such as Civilian Awards from Mongolia and Bahrain, 60 honorary doctorate degrees from universities across the world, the National Award for Child Welfare (2017), and more.

However, there is a formidable opponent in the BJP”s Panigrahi who is leveraging the popularity of PM Modi while addressing issues such as irrigation, transportation, and infrastructure. According to political analysts, the contest will be between the BJD and the BJP.

With a SC population of 18.39 percent and an ST population of 27.91 percent, the Kandhamal constituency witnessed Samanta securing victory by a substantial margin. He secured an impressive 4.6 lakh votes, surpassing the BJP”s Kharebela Swain, who won 3.1 lakh votes.