Odisha polls: Modi to kick off BJP’s campaign from Koraput district

KORAPUT: Banko Bija, located on the outskirts of Jeypore and part of the tribal-dominated

Koraput

Lok Sabha seat, is the venue from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin BJP’s poll campaign in the state on Friday. This will be his first visit to the state, where BJP is hoping to wrest a few of the 21 LS seats, since the poll dates were announced on March 10.

With the Koraput and Nabarangpur Lok Sabha seats voting in the first phase of the polls on April 11, BJP’s decision to choose Jeypore for the Prime Minister’s rally is a strategic one. The town is on the point of intersection of two ST-reserved parliamentary constituencies and will enable Modi to woo tribal voters.

The BJP, which fared badly in all 14 assembly seats under the Koraput and Nabarangpur Lok Sabha seats in 2014, is hopeful that Modi’s visit would boost its chances in this region. Both Lok Sabha seats are Maoist-hit.

“The BJP is synonymous with development and the people have already made up their mind to vote for the party. Modi’s visit will surely help us win seats in this part of the state,” said

Jayaram Pangi

, BJP’s LS candidate for Koraput. Pangi had won the seat in 2009 on a BJD ticket but joined the saffron party in 2017.

Similarly,

Balabhadra Majhi

, who won the Nabarangpur LS seat on a BJD ticket in 2014, recently moved to BJP and is the party’s candidate for the seat this time. “The Prime Minister’s visit will only increase our winning margin. The ruling BJD will be reduced to third position,” Majhi said.

Political observers feel that with a weak organisational structure, BJP is unlikely to improve its prospects despite Modi’s visit. “In 2014, while the entire nation was gripped by the so-called Modi wave, this part of the state had rejected BJP. The party suffered due to its weak base here and that has hardly changed,” said a political analyst.

Veteran Congress leader Tara Prasad Bahinipati, who is the party’s candidate for the Jeypore assembly seat, said, “Modi has failed to keep the promises he made in 2014. His visit will have no impact on the tribal voters of the area.”

In 2014, the ruling BJD had won 10 out of the 14 assembly seats under Koraput and Nabarangpur LS constituencies and Congress won the rest, all in Koraput district. The BJD had also won both the two LS seats.

“Nowhere does BJP figure in this contest. The party will not be helped by the Prime Minister’s visit,” said Rabi Narayan Nanda, BJD’s spokesperson and its candidate for the Jeypore assembly seat.

The area, which borders Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, has been placed under a thick security blanket ahead of Modi’s trip. SP (Koraput) Kanwar Vishal Singh said a three-tier security bandobast had been made ready for Modi, who is also protected by personnel belonging to the

Special Protection Group

(SPG).

Thirty-five platoons of security forces involving BSF, SOG, DVF and Odisha Police have been deployed. “Though the situation is under control, we can’t be complacent. All vehicles entering the district are being checked thoroughly. All police stations in Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts have been put on high alert,” said DIG (south-western range) Himanshu Lal.