An overflowing drain at Kafla in Cuttack. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Jan. 28: The BJD looks to have become stronger in Ramgarh, Mansinghpatna, Kafla, Chandni Chowk, Lalbag, Kaligali, Kazi Bazar and the neighbouring areas after an Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader joined the party.

With a vote share of around 42 per cent, the BJD had won three of the five wards in these areas. The Congress, with a vote share of 27.5 per cent in these areas, had won one ward. NCP had won in the other ward.

But the equations changed after the NCP councillor, who had won from his ward four times in a row, switched over to the BJD recently. The city’s firebrand CPI(M) leader Subash Singh, a resident of the ward, too has joined the BJD.

Prestige is at stake for Cuttack MP Bhatruhari Mahtab, Athagarh MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain and Banki MLA Pravat Tripathy, all are from the BJD. They are residents of the area, which has around 34,600 voters.

NCP councillor Sesadev Nanda, who has joined the BJD, said: “Emphasis has been given on sanitation. Almost all roads are in good shape due to timely repair. Water supply has been augmented by installation of 40 new hand pumps.”

Sesadev’s ward No. 10 is now No. 13 and reserved for women. He had won from the ward in the last four civic polls. His joining the BJD has strengthened the ruling party’s hold in the area.

The BJP has a support base in the ward. Apart from Congress and Odisha Jan Morcha, one Independent candidate is in the fray.

Residents feel there is need for better surface water drainage. “Waterlogging is still problem and street lights need to be installed,” Subash Singh, a local resident, said.

BJD councillor Mamata Pani said: “All roads have been developed and new streetlights have been installed at prime locations.”

Mamata’s ward No. 8 has been numbered as 11 and left unreserved after delimitation. BJD has fielded its Athagarh MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain’s nephew Amarendra Pratap Swain this time.

The ward has been a stronghold of the BJD with a 65.72 per cent vote share in 2009.

The BJP has a strong presence in the ward and its candidate Bijay Dalai is expected to be ahead of the Congress. Residents feel there is traffic congestion due to unchecked encroachments on roads. The ward lacks public toilets and a community centre.

“No steps have been taken to widen drains in most localities. As a result, waterlogging persists,” local resident Dilip Mohapatra said.

Congress councillor Hemanta Behera claimed: “New drains have been constructed and existing drainage channels have been upgraded. Bad roads have been repaired and proper drinking water supply has been improved in the slum pockets.”

Hemanta’s ward No. 11 has been numbered as 13 and reserved for women after delimitation. The ward has been a stronghold of the Congress with a vote share of 53.68 per cent in 2009. The party has fielded a Muslim candidate this time and shifted Hemanta to ward No. 16. BJD had a vote share of 27 per cent last time and is trying hard to win this time because the BJP has a negligible presence.

There is need for a public toilet and a community centre in the area. “No major development project has been undertaken due to the lack of government lands,” Ananta Das a local resident, said.

BJD councillor of ward No. 7 Sumitra Sahoo claimed: “Work for improvement of most of the roads and drains have been completed. Emphasis has been given on installation and maintenance of street lights.”

Ward No. 7, which was reserved for women, has been numbered as 10 and reserved for backward class candidates after delimitation. The BJD, which had a vote share of 49 per cent in 2009, has dropped her and fielded Gyana Ranjan Swain. Sumitra is contesting as an Independent from her mother-in-law’s ward No. 38.