BJP leader Samir Dey and (right) BJD’s Barabati Cuttack MLA Debashis Samantaray campaign in Cuttack. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Jan. 29: Quite a few politicians across party lines here have much in stake in the forthcoming urban polls.

BJD boss and chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s agenda is to form the Cuttack Municipal Corporation council by repeating a Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation-like thumping victory.

The mantra of the Jaydev Jena-led Odisha Pradesh Congress is to use the polls to prepare a pitch for the ensuing Assembly elections. On the other hand, the beleaguered BJP is trying to revive its presence.

And the fledgling parties — Pyari Mohan Mohapatra-led Odisha Jana Morcha and Soumya Ranjan Patnaik-led Ama Odisha — are testing political waters in the city ahead of the Assembly polls by fielding candidates and backing Independents.

Besides, political parties, several leaders will face the litmus test as the Cuttack Municipal Corporation area is spread across three Assembly segments — Barabati Cuttack, Choudwar Cuttack and Sadar Cuttack. All the three legislators belong to the ruling party.

For the BJD, the civic polls are not just limited to improving its councillor tally (won in 37 wards in 2009) and retaining the municipal council. Naveen has reportedly asked the three MLAs to consolidate the party’s base in all the 59 wards.

“The BJD’s performance will make things easier for MLAs Debashis Samantaray and Pravat Biswal to stake re-nomination for the Barabati Cuttack and Choudwar Cuttack seats, respectively, during the Assembly polls,” said a senior BJD leader.

For both Samantaray and Biswal what’s crucial is the number of BJD candidates getting elected from the wards in their constituencies. While there are 31 wards in Barabati Cuttack, 22 come under Choudwar Cuttack.

Prestige is at stake for BJD leaders — Athagarh MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain and Mahanga MLA Pratap Jena as their nephews Amarendra Pratap Swain and Kaniska Jena are contesting the civic polls. For BJD leader Saumendra Ghose, the polls will be a commentary on his tenure as mayor, making or marring his future prospects in the party.

Much is at also stake for the City Congress Committee president Md Moquim.

“His continuance as the party’s city chief and an Assembly ticket (which he has been eyeing for) will depend on the party’s performance in the civic polls,” a BJD insider said.

Prestige is at stake for former Congress minister Bijaylaxmi Sahu as her daughter Sriya Sambedana is contesting the civic polls as well. The party had won from eight wards in 2009. The elections will determine the fate of two BJP leaders — former state minister Samir Dey and party state unit general secretary Nayan Kishore Mohanty. “The BJP’s performance will make things easier for Dey (who is in charge of 31 wards in Barabati Cuttack Assembly constituency) to plead a case for a party ticket for the Cuttack Lok Sabha seat,” a senior BJD leader said.

“So is the case with Nayan Kishore Mohanty for the Choudwar Cuttack Assembly seat from where he eyes to contest on a party ticket,” he said.

Mohanty’s success or failure will depend on the number of candidates that get elected from the 22 wards under the Choudwar Cuttack Assembly constituency.

The BJP had won from two wards in 2009.