No party to get majority in Odisha: Pyarimohan Mohapatra

--Pyarimohan predicts BJD to get 60 to 65 seats   

Photo by Arabinda Mohapatra

BHUBANESWAR: Following the end of the first and second phase polls, calculation for winnability of seats has been started by the political analysts and senior leaders of different political parties in the State.

Odisha Jan Morcha (OJM) president and a soothsayer of politics Pyarimohan Mohapatra, who had predicted a vast majority for the BJD to form Government in 2009 and sure win for the BJD in Umerkote by-election, claimed that no party in the State could get majority to form Government.

Mohapatra said the BJD would get hardly 60 to 65 seats, while main opposition Congress would get only 35 to 40 seats in the recently ended General Election. He also predicted that the national party BJP would get only 25 to 30 seats, while the others will get rest of the seats in the polls.

“BJD’s claim to get vast majority cannot see the light of the day. The State will see a different equation while formation of the Government,” said Mohapatra.

The State BJP, which is aspiring for an overwhelming result in the elections, pooh poohed the claim of the BJD to form the Government with a vast majority. While contacted BJP’s former president Suresh Pujari said they will surprise their opponents. “Just wait, let the result come. Naveen Patnaik will be more surprised after getting the election result,” said Pujari.

The Congress heavyweights like PCC State president Jayadev Jena and party’s campaign committee chief Srikant Jena claimed that they have done very good job in the elections and have received overwhelming support from the people.

On the other hand, former PCC president Niranjan Patnaik said the people were in the favour of a positive change in the State, but the oppositions like the Congress and the BJP could not come up with a great force to steal the show which was expected before.

Though the BJD has been claiming that they would form the Government, the recent prediction of a hung Assembly may create tension for the party. Meanwhile, party vice-president Kalpataru Das refused to buy the hung Assembly story.  

Parties’ complain against 3 DMs in State: Eelection Commission

Zaidi and HS Brahma

--stop using Bharat Nirman volunteers in poll duty, says EC

BHUBANESWAR: Election Commissioner HS Brahma while addressing the reporters here on Wednesday said the political parties of the State have complained against Collectors of three districts for alleged unfair practices.

When reporters asked all the names of the districts, the Commissioner consciously avoided the questions and said that they are verifying the allegation made by the political parties against the Collectors. “The political parties had appealed us to warn the district magistrates to remain unbiased and neutral during the polls. We got the complaint and are verifying the truth in it,” said Brahma.

The Commissioner also told the reporters about three points which was raised by the political parties in a discussion. These were free and fair polls, protection to the candidates and implementation of single window system to give quick disposal of campaign related permission and complaints.        

Brahma clarified that they will implement the single window system in district level very soon to facilitate the candidates contesting the election. He also made it clear that the replies on the complaints lodged by the candidates should be processed within 24 hours.

He further said that they have reviewed the preparedness for the simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the State Assembly to be held in two phases on April 10 and 17. Political parties’ request for security in the left wing extremists (LWE) areas will be considered, he added.

The Election Commissioner said they have kept strict vigil on election expenditure, liquor distribution, paid news and violation of model code of conduct during the poll process. He also appealed the media to cooperate them in checking unfair practices and violations of poll code.

Another Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi said the political parties and candidates had complained about use of Bharat Nirman volunteers in the election work. He clarified that they will not be misused in the work anymore.

Zaidi also told that they were urged by the political parties to extend the time slot for party campaign in the All India Radio and Doordarshan.

He stated that the banners, posters and leaflets put up in the houses by the candidates after taking permission from the owners will not be removed. This year, photo voter slips would be delivered by the district level officers instead of political party agents, he added.

Zaidi said that neutrality will be maintained. If any officer violates poll code, the commission will take action against him, he added.

“We will keep eye on media along with social media. Any malicious content related to election in the social media will be removed,” Zaidi said, adding, “We have deployed surveillance teams, flying squads, excise teams, election observers and other vigilant teams to keep strict vigil on illegal liquor, money and gift distributions during the polls.”

Among others, Deputy Election Commission Alok Shukla and two Director Generals of the Election Commission of India (ECI) BK Das and Akshaya Rout also spoke to the reporters about measures to conduct free and fair elections, provision of minimum facilities at polling stations, communication plan and functioning of complaint redressal mechanism.

BJP candidates’ list for 29 Assembly seats

Constituency	Candidate
Champua	Girish Mohant
Jaleswar	Arun Bej
Bhograi	Paresh Nayak
Soro (SC)	Rakesh Mallik
Simulia	Sashi Bhusan Sahu
Bhandaripokhari	Badri Narayan Dhala
Bhadrak	Pradeep Nayak
Binjharpur (SC)	Anchal Das
Bari	Nilamani Samal
Jajpur	Jagannath Samal
Baramba	Bibhudutta Pattnaik
Barabati Cuttack	Pradeep Swain
Khandapada	Dr Shiba Prasad Bhanj
Salipur	Hemanta Sahoo
Mahanga	Samir Samal
Patkura	Manas Ranjan Mohanty
Kendrapada (SC)	Sunakar Behera
Ali	Braja Kishore Bhuyan
Rajanagar	Gyan Beura
Mahakalpada	Bijay Mohapatra
Paradip	Diptirekha Nayak
Tirtol (SC)	Prof Ramakanta Bhoi
Balikuda-Erasama	Chitta Ranjan Kans
Satyabadi	Dr Biswanath Rath
Pipili	Praphul Prasad Gajendra
Nayagarh	Pradeep Jena
Ekamra	Amiya Dash
Khordha	Jitu Mitra
Kakatpur (SC)	Tushar Kanti Behera

BJP names 29 Assembly, 2 LS candidates

--replaces two for Nilagiri, Brahmagiri

BHUBANESWAR: The Central Election Committee of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday announced candidates for 29 Assembly and two Lok Sabha seats in the State.

The BJP announced Amiya Mallick for Jajpur Lok Sabha seat and Sarat Dash for Bhadrak Lok Sabha seat, while it fielded 29 candidates from the left-out Assembly constituencies in the State.

At the last moment, the election committee of the party has decided to field veteran leader Bijay Mohapatra from Mahakalpada Assembly constituency in Kendrapada district and newly joined former Khordha MLA Jitu Mitra from his own seat.

The BJP also announced the replacement of its candidate in the Nilagiri Assembly constituency Dr Pratap Chandra Rath with Sushma Biswal. Similarly, the party replaced Amrut Jena with Debendranath Tarai for Brahmagiri constituency.

OJM names candidates for 1 LS, 40 Assembly seats

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Jan Morcha (OJM) on Tuesday announced names of its candidates for 40 Assembly constituencies and one Lok Sabha seat in the State. Elections for all these seats will be held in the second phase of polling on April 17.

Party president Pyarimohan Mohapatra named Bishunupriya Nayak as the candidate from Keonjhar parliamentary constituency.

The names of candidates for 40 Assembly seats are Akshaya Kumar Karan (Aul), Kailash Mohanty (Rajnagar), Subhashree Biswal (Brahmagiri), Sridhar Tripathy (Simulia), Sabitri Nayak (Karanjia), Dilip Nayak (Jashipur), Sripati Dandpat (Saraskana), Debendra Nath Singh (Baripada), Balaram Marandi (Bangiriposi), Prabhakar Nayak (Dharmasala), Banalata Behera (Badasahi), Rabinarayan Hota (Ghasipura), Hiranya Kumar Nayak (Telkoi), Maharga Singh (Pallahada), Yasomanta Marandi (Patana), Saraswati Nayak (Keonjhar), Mangal Singh Tudu (Rairangpur), Sushant Kumar Sahu (Parjang), Jasobanta Bhoi (Tirtol), Jayadarshi Nayak (Bhubaneswar Central), Rabi Maharana (Ekamra), Bidhan Chandra Jena (Remuna), Anil Kumar Mohapatra (Nilagiri), Madhab Mallick (Kakatpur), Rinabala Das (Niali), Ranjan Panda (Chandabali), Aparna Swain (Basudevpur), Mohammed Ali Sheikh Jinna (Bhadrak), Shantanu Das (Jaleswar), Pradeep Sahu (Angul), Amar Nayak (Mahanga), Sarada Prasanna Swain (Nimapada), Dr Rabi Ranjan Sahu (Barabati Cuttack), Ganesh Prasad Das (Dhamnagar), Bhabagrahi Mallick (Bhandaraipokhari), Judhisthir Mohanta (Morada), Nandkishore Samal (Bari), Rashmi Ranjan Samal (Paradip), Amiya Ranjan Sahu (Patkura) and Shankarshan Mohanty (Athagarh).

OJM youth wing president joins Congress

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Jan Morcha (OJM) youth wing president Siddheswari Prasad Mishra (Babi) on Tuesday joined the Congress after resigning from his post and primary membership of his parent party. Mishra was welcomed by Pradesh Congress Committee president Jaydev Jena in the presence of senior party leaders.

BJD’s third list of candidates for Assembly seats

BHUBANESWAR: The BJD on Monday announced names of candidates for 15 Assembly constituencies. Raghu Mohanty was denied ticket. 

Constituency	Candidate
Bhubaneswar North	Priyadarshi Mishra
Jatni	Bhagirathi Badajena
Khordha	Rajendra Sahu
Kendrapada	Kishore Tarai
Rajnagar	Alekh Jena
Dhamnagar (SC)	Muktikanta Mandal
Remuna (SC)	Sudarshan Jena
Basta	Nityananda Sahoo
Sora (ST)	Parsuram Dhada
Champua	Tatwa Prakash Satapathy (Papu Pom Pom)
Andandpur (SC)	Mayadhar Jena
Morada	Praveen Bhanja Deo
Rairangpur (ST)	Saiba Sushil Hansda
Telkoi (ST)	Bedabyas Nayak
Keonjhar (ST)	Abhiram Nayak

Congress run by coterie: Niranjan Patnaik

--Bhupinder had longstanding relation with CM: Srikant

BHUBANESWAR: “Congress is run by a coterie,” said former Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik here on Sunday while keeping his view on his party’s recent developments including joining of party’s senior leaders Bhupinder Singh and Anup Sai in the BJD.

The Congress leader admitted Bhupinder Singh’s allegation that senior members are being neglected in the party. “It is very unfortunate that our party told leader of the Opposition to step down just a month before the General Election.”     

Patnaik said, “It is the duty of the Congress high command and State leaders to strengthen the party by looking into the matter in a sensitive way,” said Patnaik, adding, “If the leaders do not take all the workers in an organised manner, our party may pay heavy price for it.”

Expressing grave concern over the party’s leadership, Patnaik said the persons-in-charge of the party should take appropriate decisions so that the party can fight well in the ensuing elections.

Meanwhile, party’s State campaign committee Chief Srikant Jena said that Bhupinder had longstanding relations with the BJD president Naveen Patnaik before resigning from Congress party. “Now people of the State saw the real face of Bhupinder who joined BJD,” said Jena.