BHUBANESWAR: With the nomination of candidates by three major political parties, the battle lines for Umerkote by-election have been drawn.It will be a fight among the Gonds. BJP candidate Dharmu Gond, who has been in the race since 1995, is a known face among the electorate. He was once elected to the Assembly in 2004. On the other hand, Jitendra Gond of Congress and BJD nominee Subash Gond are political greenhorns.Though the BJD is confident of retaining the seat because of the resources at its disposal, the selection of Subash has not gone down well with its local unit. At least three ministers are camping in Umerkote and the BJD is pulling out all the stops to ensure the victory of its candidate.The by-election has become a prestige issue for Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who has been in the driving seat for three consecutive terms. It will be a test of his popularity particularly in the tribal-dominated Umerkote where he has initiated a series of welfare programmes.Political observers feel that Jitendra will face opposition from within the party. The party by denying ticket to senior leader and former minister Parama Pujari has antagonised her supporters. Pujari was earlier elected to the Assembly from Umerkote four times and has been in active politics for over three decades.So, it is unlikely that the Congress candidate will get support from Parama Pujari as she would not like the emergence of another leader in the party in her home turf.Besides, many Congress leaders are jittery over the growing clout and increasing interference of Nabarangpur MP Pradeep Majhi. In such a scenario, a chunk of the Congress vote will go in favour of the BJD, sources in the party said. Jitendra, a former sarpanch, was once a close associate of the slain BJD MLA Jagabandhu Majhi. He, however, has to face the wrath of the Bengali settlers for his anti-Bengali drive.Similarly, BJD and the Bengali settlers have been at loggerheads and accordingly former minister Arabinda Dhali has been entrusted with the task of wooing them and garner support for the party in Raighar block.The deteriorating law and order situation in Umerkote will be the main issue in the by-poll. The Government’s failure to protect the sitting MLA who was gunned down by a group of unidentified persons and murder of nearly a dozen tribals in recent months has put the ruling BJD on the defensive.
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