Berhampur Lok Sabha segment in Southern Odisha will witness a battle between two turncoats Bhrugu Baxipatra and Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy.
Baxipatra is popular in Berhampur as a grassroots-level leader and mass leader. Son of former MLA Harish Chandra Baxipatra, he snapped 23-year-old ties with the saffron party after BJP fielded former BJD minister and three-time MLA Pradeep Panigrahi for the Berhampur Lok Sabha seat.
Baxipatra had fought the 2019 general election as a BJP candidate for the Berhampur Lok Sabha seat, but he lost to BJD’s Chandra Sekhar Sahu.
BJD has fielded Baxipatra, who switched from BJP while the saffron party has nominated Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy, who joined the saffron party after being expelled from BJD. The contest between Panigrahy and Baxipatra is going to be intense as both parties have strong bases in the constituency on the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border.
With Berhampur going to polls on May 13, Baxipatra talks about his future plans for Berhampur in a candid conversation with Ommcom News Editor-in-Chief Jajati Karan.
How difficult was the transition because you have been working with BJP all around?
Ans– I resigned from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on April 3. And I had made it very clear in my resignation letter that it’s been very difficult choice to quit a party where I have worked for almost 23 years. BJP was the party to which I have been very loyal and have given my blood and sweat. But, unfortunately, I would also mention that for the last couple of years, it seemed as if the party has not been recognizing my involvement in party work or may be does not want me in the party work anymore and does not see my requirement in the party anymore. I also mentioned the party I had joined in 2000 has become a very different party now in Odisha. On many occasions, I had pointed out that the national party is not functioning the way it should perform. It was very difficult on my part to quit the party. But now I think it was a good return. And I am happy that Biju Janata Dal has taken me in and given me importance and made me a candidate for the Berhampur Lok Sabha seat.
Question- Give me three important reasons why the people of Berhampur should vote for you this time.
Ans- The first reason is for the government which is functioning. The Biju Janata Dal has provided the ultimate service in the past 24 years for which people of my Lok Sabha constituency have voted for Biju Janata Dal time and again. You can see the difference, you can see the progress in front of your eyes. The scenario of the Berhampur Lok Sabha segment was completely different in 2000 when Naveen Patnaik came to power. He changed it to a very large extent and has fulfilled the demands of people in the last 24 years. The development was fast and continuous. The development required in 2000 has more or less quite a few things have been fulfilled. And what is required now to the present generation, present society and present people is what is being sorted out to be fulfilled in the next five years.
This is the first time that any government in this country is doing time-bound development. When I say time-bound, it says that we will do something in a month, in two months and people can see it happening right in front of their eyes. This is the first reason why people should vote for me and why I am appealing that people should vote for Biju Janata Dal.
The second reason is my leader Naveen Patnaik. Naveen Patnaik has been a prolific statesman and has been a prolific leader. This is the 6th time that he will be taking the oath of office when he becomes Chief Minister in the month of June. And history is going to be made in the county and Odisha. It’s only because of his clean slate. It’s very rare to see a politician winning elections after elections for the last 25 years. It cannot happen unless and until there is clarity of mind. So, there is a faith people have on the Chief Minister of the state.
Third thing is I am primarily asking for votes as a candidate. I feel that I have the strength. I have the understanding of the issues of this constituency. I have a fair understanding of what can change. I can see ten years from now what can happen in Odisha. The government is thinking about how development will reach the constituency and how I use my voice and vision to collaborate with the vision of the government and speak out problems of people in Lok Sabha. So I can do justice to the votes.
Question- Tell us the biggest challenge you are facing in this election especially when you are switching over to BJD at the last moment.
Ans- Frankly speaking, this is God’s grace and Lord Jagannath’s grace that my blending into the new party has been awesome and wonderful. I am sure that I am one of those lucky people because my new party, my political leaders, my colleagues and party workers at grassroots level have accepted me. They have seen that I have been putting hard work in last five years even after the election in 2019.
Question- Give three most important changes you would like to see in your constituency if you are voted to power.
Ans- The first thing I would like to contribute is making the best development out of the rivers we have in our constituency Mahendratanaya, Rushikulya, Banshadhara and Bahuda. I believe and so does the government that once these four rivers are given best infrastructure, there will be huge agricultural development in this part of the state. The people of Ganjam have always been known for the hard work they put in. I am sure it’s going to be beneficial.
Secondly, Gopalpur port is looking for a huge development in the coming years. And there could be a huge opportunity for export and import to South Asia if we connect Gopalpur with Sambalpur and Rayagada railways. Once that is done, I think the iron ore, bauxite, coal and mineral transportation that happen to the port can be done. And there will be a lot of job opportunities for the people over here.
Thirdly, the government is thinking of investing here. So, new industries will give an opportunity for skilled workers in Ganjam and Berhampur constituency to contribute to the development in textiles, pharma or diamond cutting.
Question- What is your biggest personal strength you believe that will help you win this election?
Ans- My strength is connecting to people of my constituency. I think people have liked me for speaking the truth. People have liked me for being the voice of the people. People have liked me for not mincing words or talking of development. People like me because I am looking at positive politics where we are looking at development. We are not looking at riffraff politics. We are not looking at any small-time requirement or need. People would surely want a change in the political leadership they have had until now.
Question- What you have to say on your biggest opponent Pradeep Panigrahi who is contesting against you? It’s quite normal that you can count many negative things about him. But, any strength you see in him?
Ans- See, I personally don’t know him much. The voters of Berhampur Lok Sabha or the Gopalpur constituency which he was representing for the last 15 years would know better. But his strength could be the gimmicks that he makes on social media. I don’t know whether it is positive or negative, but this is all I can see.
