Will Ranjita Sahu’s Political Background Help Her Continue BJD’s Winning Streak In Aska? (image-Facebook/Ranjita Sahu)

By nominating Ranjita Sahu, the unexpected candidate, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is expecting to repeat its 2019 victory in the Aska Lok Sabha constituency. In the previous general elections, party leader Naveen Patnaik had picked Pramila Bisoyi, a political novice, as the candidate for the constituency. Against all expectations, Bisoyi secured victory with 5.5 lakh votes.

The new MP candidate, Ranjita is a youth leader and daughter of BJD leader Hara Prasad Sahu. While Sahu has served as the chairman of Kodala notified area council, Ranjita’s mother, Sunitaprava Sahu, is also a former chairperson of the same. The 33-year-old Ranjita currently heads the Kodala Youth Forum, an NGO for migrant workers, and has her own healthcare start-up.

With her established network among the locals, the BJD expects to keep its stronghold over the seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections as well. While acknowledging that electoral politics is new to her, Ranjita said, “I belong to a political family and have seen things from up close.” She added that public relations came naturally to her.

She is a postgraduate in applied economics from Bangalore’s Christ University.

The Aska Lok Sabha constituency comprises Vidhan Sabhas such as Polasara, Aska, Surada, Kabisuryanagar, Sanakhemundi, Khallikote (SC), and Patnaik’s home ground Hinjili.

Till the entry of the BJD, the Aska constituency remained a Congress stronghold. However, since 1998, Naveen Patnaik’s BJD has consistently maintained its winning streak. Patnaik himself represented the seat in 1998 and 1999. He eventually quit the seat to represent the state.

Ranjita is pitted against BJP’s Anita Subhadarshini, who won 3.4 lakh votes but faced defeat against Bisoyi in 2019. Subhadarshini is the daughter of veteran leader of Janata Dal, BJD and BJP, Ramakrushna Patnaik. She is a postgrad in political science and has an undergraduate degree in law.