Congress Nominates Rashmi Ranjan Patnaik Against Two Turncoats In BJD Bastion Berhampur (image-Facebook/Rashmi ranjan pattnaik)Formerly known as Ghumsur, the Berhampur constituency will witness a political clash between Congress’ Rashmi Ranjan Patnaik and two turncoats – the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) candidate Bhrugu Baxipatra and the BJP’s Pradeep Panigrahy.
While Baxipatra, who a few weeks ago served as the vice president of the BJP, is now contesting on the BJD ticket, the three-time MLA from Gopalpur and once a close aid of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Panigrahy, expelled from the BJD following his arrest on alleged corruption charges, is the BJP candidate.
With a significant Christian (11.34 percent), SC (15.88 percent), and ST (17.96 percent) population, the Berhampur Lok Sabha constituency used to be the strong citadel of the Congress. Former prime minister Narasimha Rao had won the seat in the 1996 elections.
However, since 2009, the seat has become a BJD bastion. Although the Congress candidate, earlier in Youth Congress, is contesting the elections, according to political analysts, the fight for the Berhampur seat is said to be primarily between the BJP and the BJD candidates.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, BJD candidate Chandrasekhar Sahu emerged victorious by a significant margin of 94,000 votes, defeating the BJP’s Baxipatra, who won 3.4 lakh votes. Congress candidate V. Chandrasekhar Naidu came in third with 1.4 lakh votes.
Considered to be the gateway to southern Odisha, the Berhampur seat is a crucial win for the Congress to restore its winning streak of the past. However, based on the current ruling parties and the popularity of the BJP and BJD candidates among the public, the road to victory for Congress’ Rashmi Ranjan Patnaik appears quite difficult.
The Berhampur Lok Sabha constituency comprises seven Vidhan Sabhas, including Chhatrapur (SC), Gopalpur, Berhampur, Chikiti, Mohana (ST), Paralakhemundi, and Digapahandi. Of the seven assembly segments, five are in Ganjam district, a BJD bastion since 2009 and home to CM Patnaik’s assembly constituency Hinjili, which is held by the BJD, while Parakhemundi and Mohana are represented by the BJP and Congress, respectively.