Odisha elections: Age no bar for Ganjam’s senior citizens

BERHAMPUR

: It seems age is not a factor for political leaders wanting to contest the polls; several septuagenarians and octogenarians from

Ganjam district

have expressed willingness to seek election, even re-election, in the simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls. This, despite different parties claiming that they would prefer to field younger faces.

Some of the elders include 10-time MLA of Kabisurya Nagara, V Sugnan Kumari Deo (82), five-time MLA (Berhampur)

Ramesh Chandra

Chaupatnaik (75), and six-time MLA (

Digapahandi

) Surya Narayan Patro (71) of the ruling BJD. They also include 78-year-old Chintamani Dyansamantra, a three-time MLA (Chikiti) and former state assembly speaker, who is lobbying for a Congress ticket from the Berhampur Lok Sabha seat; and 84-year-old K Shyambabu Subudhi, who has lost 28 elections but is ready to try his luck — again — as an Independent.

Though speculation is rife that Deo, the scion of the erstwhile Khallikote royal family, will not contest due to ill-health, her supporters said she would seek re-election if given a ticket. Deo was elected to the assembly 10 times from the Khallikote and Kabisurya Nagara segments. She was elected eight times from Khallikote, before switching to Kabisurya Nagara, from where she was elected twice. She changed her constituency because Khallikote became SC-reserved in 2009.

“I am interested to contest once again from the Berhampur assembly segment. I have conveyed my desire to the party chief Naveen Patnaik,” said Chaupatnaik, who has been elected from here for the past five times. “I don’t think age is a factor when one is healthy,” said Chaupatnaik, a doctor.

The chief minister, 72, himself has been elected from Hinjili over the past four elections. He is likely to seek re-election from the segment.

Dyansamantara, who is willing to contest from the Berhampur Lok Sabha constituency, said, “An experienced party leader can give younger leaders a run for their money. In this case, age should not be taken into account.”

Similarly, supporters of Ram Krushna Patnaik said the 79-year-old leader would contest from Polasara if BJP gave him a ticket. Patnaik was elected from the then Kodala segment five times.