Concerns Mount For BJD As Former MLA Rajendra Das Revolts

Bhubaneswar: The BJD’s strategy of running Abanti Das as a woman to counter the sympathy wave in support of the BJP candidate Suryabanshi Suraj Sthitaprajna appears to have failed because it has alienated the two main groups in Dhamnagar. The predicament has reached the point where party members associated with the faction of former MLA Rajendra Das have openly protested Abanti Das’ bid for the by-election.

Even though the party has pushed into service several MLAs in addition to organisational secretary Pranab Prakash Das and Food Supply and Consumer Welfare Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak to persuade Das, the possibility of Das filing his nomination paper as a rebel candidate cannot be completely ruled out.

Das and his adversary Muktikanta Mandal, also a former MLA and spouse of BJD MP from Bhadrak Lok Sabha seat Manjulata Mandal, are disgruntled with Abanti’s candidacy. According to sources, Mandal had tacitly supported Abanti’s candidacy in order to reduce the possibilities of Das winning the ticket once it became evident that he would not be fielded due to the one-man, one-post formula.

Additionally, sources claim that the BJD utilised Das’ mentee Abanti to undermine his prospects of receiving the ticket. Abanti had been championed by Das and introduced to politics. He is said to have been a key factor in her election as the Tihidi block chairperson.

Das and his supporters were taken aback by the BJD leadership’s sudden change of heart after they had been guaranteed that he would be nominated.

While speaking with reporters in Dhamnagar, Das neither confirm nor deny that he would be running as an independent. “I’m talking with my workers. I’ll make a choice soon, he declared.

Meanwhile, the deadline for filing nomination papers is October 14.

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