Major parties eye BMC mayor’s crown, proxy campaign begins

Bhubaneswar,Feb 17: The State Election Commission has not formally announced Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) election . Even no sight of delimitation and reservation municipal wards.  Still, all the major political parties in the state have started readying themselves to face BMC election. The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress have started  projecting a number of Mayor candidates. All aspirants have started their effort to occupy prestigious Mayor seat in Bhubaneswar by hook or crook. BJD tops the mayor aspirant’s list. Among BJD leaders, Amaresh Jena (Baiana), Biranchi Narayan Mahasupakar(Litu), Naba and Mahamaya may vie for the prestigious post, presume political observers in the city. Baiana and Litu have already started campaigning in the city. They are seen in BJD posters, hoardings and banners across their wards. Both are trying to garner support from the power corridors of BJD. {"align":"center","id":31314,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} Moreover, former corporator Nabakishore Behera, Hridayballav Samantray,Babuli Samartha,SK Nizamuddin and Lenin Mohanty are said to be party candidates for the Mayor’s race. As BJD Supremo Naveen Patnaik focuses on political empowerment of women, former Deputy Mayor Bharati Singh, former corporators Manasi Sundaray, Sima Nayak and Saswati Mishra are likely to be considered as  the mayor candidates in the forthcoming election. Main opposition BJP also eyes the Mayor seat for the coming term. The party led by Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi has prepared a team of befitting candidates to occupy the Mayors chair this time. A long list including the names of Jagannath Pradhan, Dillip Mohanty, Babu Singh and Harekrishna Khuntia has been drawn up, say party insiders. If Mayor is directly elected this year, BJP spokesperson  Lekhashree Samantsinghar may be  fielded for the covetous post. However, the nod of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Pratap Sarangi may be necessary for the nomination. On the other hand, selection procedure for Congress may be the public contact. Odisha Pradesh Congress  Committee president Niranjan Patnaik and Jatani MLA Suresh Kumar Routray may have a major say in the candidate selection, say party sources.