In our series, covering profiles of key constituencies across States and Union Territories during the Lok Sabha elections, today we bring you a report on Kendrapara Lok Sabha constituency in Odisha.
Akashvani Correspondent reports that Kendrapara is a high-profile Lok Sabha constituency in Odisha which has sent a galaxy of political heavyweights including late legendary figure Biju Patnaik and former Lok Sabha Speaker Rabi Ray to the Lok Sabha in the past. The Aul, Mahakalpada, Rajnagar, Kendrapara, Patkura, Kisannagar and Mahanga Assembly segments constitute the Kendrapara Lok Sabha constituency spread across Kendrapara district with parts in Cuttack district. The parliamentary constituency is home to 17,91,112 voters including 42,181 first-time voters. It has 9,26,275 male voters and 8,64,837 female. Significantly, all the Assembly seats coming under the parliamentary constituency were bagged by the BJD in the 2019 elections.
Lack of industries, unemployment and migration of skilled workforce are the main issues in Kendrapara Lok Sabha constituency which comes in coastal Odisha. Migration of skilled workforce is a common factor here as employment opportunities here are few and far. The skilled plumbers from this region have made their presence felt across the globe. The plumbers are much sought-after for their workmanship and dexterity. Exodus of plumbers to overseas is a recurring phenomenon. The region which is home to Bhitarkanika National Park and Olive Ridley turtle habitat of Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary and virgin beaches is yet to be utilized for ecotourism-related economy. This coastal region is primarily an agrarian belt with people largely dependent on farming for sustenance. The district, despite sending several political heavyweights to Lok Sabha and state Assembly, still does not figure in the industrial map.
This time, the fight is mainly between BJP national vice president Baijayant Panda and BJD’s young face Anshuman Mohanty with Sidharth Swarup Das of Congress also in the fray. Elections to the Kendrapara Lok Sabha constituency will be held on 1st of June. An industrialist, Baijayant Panda was elected to Lok Sabha twice from the Kendrapara seat in 2009 and 2014 on a BJD ticket. He was also a two-time BJD Rajya Sabha MP from 2000 to 2009. Baijayant Panda was suspended from the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls on charges of anti-party activities and later he resigned from the party as well as Lok Sabha. He lost to Odia filmstar Anubhav Mohanty of BJD by a margin of 1,81,483 votes in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. On the other hand, Anshuman Mohanty, a Congress deserter and former MLA had joined the BJD days before the polls. The Congress candidate Sidharth Swarup Das is a political greenhorn with no experience in Assembly or Lok Sabha elections.
