Kendrapara, a bastion of former Odisha Chief Minister Biju Patnaik, is a high-profile Assembly constituency in Odisha. Biju Babu had won from Kendrapara thrice in 1977, 1980 and 1984. No doubt, a high-voltage contest is on cards in the Kendrapara Assembly constituency, which has turned into an impregnable bastion of BJD.
This time BJD has fielded former Congress MLA and ex-minister Ganeswar Behera from the Kendrapara Assembly segment. Behera is pitted against Congress’s Sipra Mallick, a former MLA who quit BJD after the former joined the ruling party. The BJP too has fielded Zilla Parishad chairperson Gitanjali Sethi who resigned from BJD.
In short, the Kendrapara Assembly constituency is going to witness a tough battle among three turncoats who switched parties to enter the poll arena.
Interestingly, the contest between Sipra and Ganeswar is going to be intense as they are old rivals. In 2014, Sipra as a BJD candidate defeated Congress’ Ganeswar from the Kendrapara Assembly seat. In 1995, Ganeswar had fought the election as a Congress candidate and defeated Sipra of the Janata Dal from the Pattamundai seat.
Ommcom News Editor-in-Chief Jajati Karan interviewed BJD candidate Ganeswar Behera, who had earlier represented Patamundai Assembly constituency twice in 1985 and 1995 and held different ministerial portfolios during the Congress-led government in the state, to know his plans for Kendrapara people if voted to power.
Question: Being a Veteran Congress leader, how difficult was the switchover from the party? How are the people of Kendrapara accepting this change?
Answer: It was a painful decision as I was born in Congress, and I lived with Congress for 40 years. The party has given me enough opportunities to serve the party and the state, by electing me twice to the House and making me a minister.
But since 2000, I have been losing elections one after another as the flow isn’t in my favour. So I decided to win elections for the interest of people in my constituency. Because I intend to serve people for which you need power, and for power, you need to be elected. So to serve the people of Kendrapara, I decided to switch over.
Question: People might call you an opportunist, as you needed power so how would you defend that?
Answer: If anybody calls me an opportunist, he has liberty but I would say the switchover was not for my personal gains but to do something for the people. I have changed party for the development of people, and Kendrapara. So, if anyone joins any party to expedite the process of development is not an act of opportunity.
Question: How are the people of Kendrapara accepting you when you are campaigning as a BJD leader?
Answer: That will be revealed by the result and time. I am getting an overwhelming response from the people, be it a municipality or a panchayat block. People are showering overflowing affection.
Question: Give me three important reasons, why the people of Kendrapara should vote for you this time?
Answer: The three reasons why the people of Kendrapara will vote for me, the first reason is because I am always with them regardless of my inner loss. They like me because I always stand by their side 24*7. Secondly, the people of Kendrapara want a representative, who will represent them as it has gone unrepresented since 2009. Of course, the representatives were elected but the voice of Kendrapara was not heard in any House, which has hurt the self-esteem of the Kendrapara people.
So, people have confidence in me, that if am elected I will speak loud. Lastly, after being the voice of my people I will fight for their causes and will fight uninterruptedly. They will vote for me, because I have the courage and conviction to raise the voice of Kendrapara, in and outside the House.
Question: If you are elected, what are the three major changes you would like to see in Kendrapara?
Answer: My fight is for development, I want the Kendrapara Autonomous College to be upgraded to a university. Secondly, I want to build a city hospital for the people residing in the municipality, and lastly, for the larger interest of the people of Kendrapara, I want to set up a medical college and hospital. These are the three major issues I was fighting for when in the opposition and I will not distance myself from these demands if I get elected.
Since, CM Naveen Patnaik believes in the development and expeditious disposal of people’s work and projects, things will not be a problem for me to put forward under his leadership.
Question: How do you see the results of Odisha in Lok Sabha, and also for the assembly concerned? Do you think Baijayant Panda would be able to break the ice in Kendrapara?
Answer: BJD will win more seats than the BJP. BJP will get fewer seats in comparison to the 2019 elections, whereas BJD will gain more. So far, Kendrapara Lok Sabha is concerned, BJD is winning handsomely. Because the people of Kendrapara want to see CM Naveen Patnaik elected for the 6th record time.
Baijayant Panda would give a fight, but BJD is winning.
Question: What is the main reason behind the downfall of the Congress? Because it has gone so down, has become non-existent in some places.
Answer: Since I have left Congress, I shouldn’t comment on it. Rather Congress should introspect why it is failing in the state repeatedly.
Question: What is your biggest personal strength that will help you win this election?
Answer: My hard work and dedication to the cause of the people of Kendrapara as well as my image are three major factors I bank on in this election
