Congress Renominates Incumbent MP Saptagiri Ulaka From Its Bastion Koraput (image-X/saptagiriulaka)
Congress has renominated sitting MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka from its traditional bastion, Koraput Lok Sabha constituency, the only Lok Sabha seat in Odisha where the party secured its win in the 2019 elections.
Expressing his confidence in winning the seat again this time, Ulaka said that he will go to the people with his report card of his performance in the past five years. “There is a palpable wave in favor of Congress in the region,” he said.
Koraput has been a Congress stronghold since 1957, with BJD breaching the citadel from 2009 until 2014. Congress managed to wrest the seat by fielding Ulaka, who secured victory, albeit with a slender margin of 3,613 votes, bagging 3.7 lakh votes.
The Congress MP listed out his wins: he has asked nearly 400 questions; his efforts in sanctioning the installation of 1,482 mobile towers in remote areas; and the establishment of the alumni refinery at Kansariguda, which had been pending for 18 years. He also added that he worked towards the success of giving the Durua community tribal status and infrastructure projects, including the Jeypore airport and NH-326 by-pass roads in the districts of Koraput and Rayagada.
During campaigning, Ulaka highlights issues faced by the people, such as unemployment, advocating for a medical college in Rayagada, promoting agro-based industries, and establishing a Kendriya Vidyalaya in Jeypore.
Ulaka is pitted against BJP Kaliram Majhi and BJD’s tribal leader Kausalya Hikaka.
However, with infighting occurring in all three political parties regarding the Lok Sabha tickets, political analysts predict the Koraput’s triangular contest as equally balanced, with victory falling in any of the three sides.
The Koraput Lok Sabha constituency comprises seven Vidhan Sabhas, such as Gunupur (ST), Bissam Cuttack (ST), Rayagada (ST), Lakshmipur (ST), Jeypore, Koraput (SC), and Pottangi (ST). Five of the assembly segments are represented by the BJD, Congress represents a lone seat, and one seat is represented by an independent candidate.
