Odisha Panchayat Poll 2017: BJD bleeds, BJP sucks, congress stucks

Lambodar Prasad Dash

“We have no option, Congress cannot give us protection, so we supported BJP candidate,” this is a version of Jati Pradhan of Basuaghai Panchayat which is under the Bhubaneswar Ekamra assembly constituency. This is the assembly segment where Ashok Panda, state Tourism, and Culture Minister won three times consecutively. In 2012, all the candidates including Zilla Parishad were from ruling Biju Janata Dal(BJD). ZP member Sangram Paikaroy left BJD as he had an aspiration for the MLA ticket but denied in 2014 but denied. As there is no scope to get elected from a Congress ticket he joined BJP in 2016.

There are several such instances across the state where discontent BJD leaders either supported BJP or have got BJP ticket. In the fifth and final phase of Panchayat election ended on 21^st February, 2017 Ruling BJD which stood top in the last four phases got 61 ZP seats, BJP won 55 seats, Congress 9 and others 3 ((the Figures are real-time unofficial results, not declared by Election Commission))

The dramatic change of voting pattern in Odisha is an undoubtedly a great blow to the ruling BJD, who ruled the state almost for 17 years. But the Congress who has been remained main opposition pushed to the third position. It is not a great surprise to see the decreasing support of the ruling BJD as it is already reeling under anti-incumbency factor and growing discontent among the party leaders and cadres. But BJP’s impressive rise in the present Panchayat Election from the political dark state is point of analysis.  Earlier, BJP was in coalition with BJD almost for 9 years. In 2009, just before state assembly and general election BJD estranged BJP citing its alleged involvement in the Kandhamal violence. Most of the party leaders went into absurdity; they have further degenerated for their alleged involvement in most of the scams, Party remained without or feeble grass root organization and ambiguous leadership. Just before Panchayat election Party also under sharp criticism over the dilly-dallying the decision on the construction of dams over the upper course of the Mahanadi River by Chhattisgarh government.

In 2014 assembly and general election BJP’s performance was good in comparison to 2009 assembly and general election. In 2009, not a single MP got elected from BJP, only 6 of its candidates own in assembly poll. But in 2014, not only it fetched only one Parliament seat, but also in 10 parliament segments it was neck and neck fight and lost 10 thousand votes. The MLA seats also increased to 10. During the 2014 election, it was clear that BJP and BJD were feeding on the Congress vote bank, yet lion’s share had gone to BJD.

Since 2014, Odisha has been under the special focus of the BJP. Almost all the central leaders and Ministers visited Odisha more than once. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Odisha more than 5 times. It has also given 2 lucrative and important ministerial berths, one is Tribal ministry and another is petroleum and natural gas. Just before the 2014 general and assembly election many a leader from the wobbling congress party joined BJD, while discontented BJD supporters and leaders joined BJP, many even got selected to important office bearer posts, got a ticket and even elected. After victory of BJP in the national politics and INC’s shameful defeat in 2014 the disintegration of Congress and BJD grew manifold.

File Photo- Naveen During BJD rally at Bhubaneswar

File Photo- Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Out of total 850 ZP seats BJD won 435, BJP 314, Congress 56, others 16. In 2012, BJD won 651, Congress Stood second Position with 128 seats, BJP with 36 seats and others including Independent won 22 seats. (the Figures are real-time unofficial results, not declared by Election Commission)  This shows that Loss of Congress is not so high than BJD yet voters now seeing BJP as alternate to BJD.

Many leaders like Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Party’s national general joint secretary(Organisational), Party President Basant Panda, State Prabhari Arun Singh may take credit for this remarkable victory , but the reality  is different.

It is apparent that even after the feeble grass root base BJP’s impressive rise was due to Narendra Modi. Similarly, in 2000 election BJP’s performance in the state at large governed by the charisma of Atal Bihari Vajpee.

There is a saying rural Odisha, Nephew becomes more joyful when he sees straw pile of his uncle. The impressive winning of BJP in the present Panchayt election could not strengthen the Party in near future. It will again lose its ground if Congress got strength, but it seems to be unattainable in coming Municipal election scheduled on 2018.