In Sambalpur, BJD stands in the way of Pradhan’s comeback
Sambalpur in western Odisha is set for a high-octane electoral battle between Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) organising secretary Pranab Prakash Das.
The seat falls in the BJP stronghold of western Odisha, where the party has a wide acceptance that is largely attributed to the presence of organisations aliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
In 2019, BJP candidate Nitesh Ganga Deb won the seat by a margin of fewer than 10,000 votes. The BJD has a robust cadre-based structure that can spoil anyone’s party. Once a formidable force, the Congress now nds itself relegated to the third place.
High pro le
Having assessed his chances of victory across various constituencies for the past two years, Mr. Pradhan, previously a BJP strategist who has worked in elections in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh, has chosen Sambalpur. His candidature assumes signicance as he has returned to direct elections after 15 years during which he was elected to the Rajya Sabha from other States.
Neither Mr. Pradhan nor Mr. Das hails from Sambalpur. The BJD leader, a three-time MLA, is from Jajpur in coastal Odisha, while the BJP candidate is from Angul district. That said, Mr. Pradhan was the last MP from the erstwhile Deogarh Lok Sabha seat. The two Assembly seats of Deogarh now fall within the Sambalpur Lok Sabha constituency after delimitation in 2008.
Despite his high prole, Mr. Pradhan may not be the default front runner. As the BJD’s organisational secretary, Mr. Das holds an in©uential position in the party, second only to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s presidency, and is expected to ercely contest the polls.
Despite wielding signicant in©uence within the party, Mr. Das did not hold a ministerial position in Mr. Patnaik’s government between 2019 and 2024. Instead, he directed all his eorts towards strengthening the BJD at the grassroots level. His reputation as an organisational stalwart and his frequent interactions with cadre at the ground level would boost his election campaign.
The Sambalpur constituency is distinctive in its own right, having been carved out of Sambalpur, Deogarh, and Angul districts. Culture and caste compositions vary across its seven Assembly constituencies of Sambalpur, Rengali, Rairakhol, Kuchinda, Deogarh, Chhendipada, and Athmalik. In a number of Assembly seats, there is a big chunk of voters from the farming community.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s in©uence holds sway in this region, especially with the consecration of the Ayodhya Ram Temple generating considerable excitement. However, the potency of both these factors seems to be diminishing. This decline is oset by the candidacy of Mr. Pradhan, who has held weighty positions in the Union Cabinet. Many believe that his representation from Sambalpur could result in increased attention to the area’s developmental needs,” said Siba Shankar Nanda, senior journalist and political commentator.
Mr. Nanda, however, did not discount the importance of Mr. Das. “Given the in©uence of the BJD candidate on the State government, he could also be an asset for Sambalpur. Besides, the Odisha Chief Minister in a video message wished Mr. Das victory. It indicated the BJD’s determination to give BJP a tough ght,” he said.
Former Sambalpur MP Bhaabani Shankar Hota said “the electoral battle between the two candidates is far more complex than it may appear at rst glance”. “Both parties are struggling to tackle inghting,” he said.