In Cuttack, BJD banks on MLAs' strength & BJP on expected 'Vote for change'

An anti-incumbency wave is discernible in Odisha's Cuttack Lok Sabha constituency, where voting will be held on May 25.

Bhartruhari Mahtab, who has been winning from this constituency since 1998 on a BJD ticket, is contesting on a BJP ticket this time round.

The BJD seems hopeful that the anti-incumbency sentiment against Mahtab will work in its favour.


Cuttack has seven Assembly constituencies, five of which were won by the BJD in 2019. In Athagarh, the BJP has fielded sitting legislator and seven-time winner Ranendra Pratap Swain, who is popularly known as Raja Swain.

In Baramba, BJD candidate Debi Prasad Misra has been winning since the Janata Dal days.

With the BJD fielding all its sitting MLAs, the BJP is hopeful that the anti-incumbency sentiment will work in its favour in both the Assembly as well as Lok Sabha seats.

Just before the start of general elections, Mahtab joined the BJP. The BJP made him its candidate from Cuttack. Now, the BJD has fielded a new candidate, Santrupt Misra, who till February was a senior official with Aditya Birla group.

Mahtab is banking on Modi's draw and the vote-for-change sentiment. On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a public meeting in Cuttack and appealed to voters to make him win. Last Wednesday, Union home minister Amit Shah had held a roadshow in Cuttack.

"Out of seven Assembly constituency candidates, six are first-timers and professionals (doctor, computer engineer and ex-IRS officers). There is a tsunami of change in Cuttack and all over Odisha. BJP will win all Assembly seats and the LS seat in Cuttack," Mahtab told ET after Modi's public meeting.

BJD candidate Misra had similar things to say. "The fact that I am not a politician, but a professional who is trying to bring fresh ideas into politics is working to my advantage," Misra told ET. "The top leadership of the BJP campaigned in Cuttack despite having a candidate who has been an MP for six times. It means, as a fresher I must be doing something right and people love BJD and Naveen Patnaik."

Misra is banking on the support of long-time legislators who are contesting and the BJD cadre. During his campaign, he was seen moving around with the sitting MLAs. He alleged that the common complaint about Mahtab is that he is not available for the people. "I will issue a meeting calendar for the people and everyone can come and meet me," he said.

To some extent, the "vote for change" slogan resonates with the voters.

Rabi Shankar Dalaei, a 35-year-old labourer who moves to Kerala for work from June to February, said, "I go to another state because there is no opportunity here even for labourers like us. I will vote for the BJP."

Ajay Kumar Nayak, 40, a farmer from Mankundapur village in Banki, said there are people who want to vote for 'shankha' (BJD) in the Assembly seats and 'padma' (BJP) in the LS seats.

"Naveen Patnaik is good, but his party leaders are not. I will vote for Patnaik in the Assembly and the BJP in Lok Sabha," said Danadhar Samal, 40, a farmer from Govindpur village in Dampada Tehsil.

However, the situation changes as one moves into the interiors of the constituency, where the rural population is concentrated.

Twenty-one-year-old Malaya Kumar Behera in Kamanga village of Athagarh Assembly is a graduate and is preparing for government jobs. "BJP has failed on its job promise. Navin Patnaik has delivered on whatever promises he made. I will vote for Shankha (BJD)," he said.