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| Home of the supporter for an Independent candidate vandalised by rivals at Rental Colony in Bhubaneswar on Thursday |
Bhubaneswar Jan. 9: Though the BJD came up trumps in the municipal corporation polls winning in 49 of the 67 wards, the victory of a large number of rebel candidates was a big blow to the party.
As many as 12 rebels won as Independents trouncing official BJD candidates, including the high-profile social activist Linkan Subuddhi, who was handpicked by chief minister Naveen Patnaik.
The message that has gone loud and clear is that the neither the conch symbol nor the name of the chief minister alone is a candidate’s passport to success.
Subuddhi, a 29-year-old software professional shot into limelight after being attacked in Noida while trying to prevent a child marriage, was the BJD candidate from ward No. 8.
However, old BJD hands from the area did not take her candidature kindly. She was opposed by many including Rashmi Rekha Jena, wife of former councillor Ranjan Jena, who contested as an Independent candidate. Monalisa Sahu, another BJD rebel emerged victorious from the ward notwithstanding Subuddhi’s hi-tech campaign and support from Naveen.
Crestfallen, Subuddhi said the Independents marred her chances. She also accused some senior party leaders, including health minister Damodar Rout, BJD MLA Bhagirathi Badjena and former mayor Anant Narayan Jena of queering her pitch. Subuddhi’s loss may dampen the spirits of other celebrities angling for a BJD ticket in the coming Assembly elections.
Another prominent BJD rebel Biranchi Narayan Mahasupakar won from ward No. 59, from where he had been denied a party ticket. The party wanted him to contest from ward No. 52, which has been bagged by the Congress this time. Mahasupakar won despite intensive campaigning by chief minister in the area.
“They conspired against me, but my victory has proved my hold on the area,” said Mahasupkar, who has won for the third time in a trot.
Another Independent candidate in ward No. 57, Bandana Sahoo, defeated her nearest rival, BJD’s Sarita Pattnaik, who couldn’t manage to garner even half the votes bagged by Sahoo, the wife of former councillor Ashok Sahoo.
Two-time Independent councillor Sameer Pradhan had tried for a BJD ticket this time in ward No. 15 but was forced to fight as an Independent again.
He defeated BJD’s Ashok Kumar Raj rather easily. Similarly, sitting councillor Nihar Ranjan Sahoo was refused a BJD ticket from ward No. 48 and he defeated the party’s official nominee Prabeen Mohanty as an Independent.
The victory of so many Independents also reflects poorly on the judgement of the BJD leadership that failed to pick right candidates in many wards. Neither Naveen’s charisma, nor the party symbol worked in favour of the weak candidates.
Khurda district president of the BJD Babuli Mishra, said the party’s selection committee made the choices. “There were more than two aspirants for tickets in each ward. The committee went by the popularity of candidates and loyalty of the candidates to the party,” said Mishra.