BJD general secretary and Barabati-Cuttack MLA Debashis Samantaray campaigns for a party candidate in Markat Nagar. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Feb. 3: Rebel BJD councillors and their kin are posing a serious threat to official party candidates in a number of wards in the civic polls this time by fighting as Independents.

BJD insiders are of the opinion that these Independents could upset the party’s applecart in at least eight wards by taking away sizeable party votes from official nominees.

In Chauliaganj and nearby areas (ward No. 42), which fall in Choudwar-Cuttack constituency, former BJD councillor Chiranjay Sahu expected a party ticket after the ward was left unreserved following delimitation.

But he has decided to contest as an Independent as the ticket went to some one else. He is the brother-in-law of Sarojini Sahoo, the sitting BJD councillor of the ward.

“The ward was a stronghold of the Congress. I wrested the ward for BJD in the 2006 by-election. In 2009, I ensured victory for my sister-in-law as an Independent candidate as the ward was reserved for women. Later, she joined the BJD. My supporters were disappointed when the ticket went to a non-entity. I will win with the help of my supporters,” said Chiranjay.

In the last civic polls, Sarojini had polled 1,824 votes while the BJD had trailed by 480 votes.

Similarly, in Mahanadi Vihar and nearby areas that fall in ward No. 47, BJD councillor Bijay Ketan Khandei expected a party ticket for his wife after the ward was reserved for women. Now, his wife Kabita Khandei is contesting as an Independent.

“My supporters who ensured my victory last time against the CPI (M), wanted her to contest,” Bijay Ketan said.

BJD leader and Choudwar-Cuttack MLA Pravat Biswal, whose residence is located in the ward, however, said: “Tickets to sitting councillors or their spouses were not recommended by the screening committee on grounds of their alleged involvement in post-Phailin relief scam following the direction of party leader and chief minister Naveen Patnaik.”

In Badambadi and nearby areas (ward No. 44), which is in Choudwar-Cuttack Assembly constituency, Chitra Khuntia, wife of BJD councillor Pradipta Kishore Khuntia, is contesting as Independent.

“It is now a test of acceptability among people of the ward,” said Pradipta Kishore, a two-term councillor. In 2009, the BJD had polled 2,251 votes while the Congress had trailed by 1,211 votes. Trends in the area indicate that the contest here this time would be a triangular one between Chitra, Kiranbala Mohanty (Congress) and Pragyan Paromita Dwivedi (BJP). Campaign for the BJD candidate Chandrakanti Priyadarsini has been noticeably absent.

So appears to be the case in three wards in the Barabati-Cuttack constituency.

In Rajabagicha and nearby areas (ward No. 30), where the BJD MLA’s residence is located, BJD councillor Narottama Das’s sister Namita Das is contesting as an Independent. In 2009, Narottama was denied a BJD ticket, but he had gone ahead to win from the ward as an Independent candidate by securing 890 votes with the Congress trailing by just nine votes.

Narottama’s support base at the grassroots level is posing a threat to the BJD candidate.

Similar is the situation in parts of Markatnagar (ward No. 6), where BJD councillor Hrushikesh Deuri’s wife Sangita Rout is pitted as an Independent candidate against the official nominee.

Deuri expected a party ticket to his wife as the ward was reserved for backward class women after delimitation.

BJD general secretary and Barabati-Cuttack MLA Debasish Samantaray said: “The BJD candidates reinforce not only our party president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s commitment to give candidates with clean image, but also winning potential to contest for the party.”