It is a fight between two independent candidates in Champua Assembly constituency where major political parties have taken a backseat. Election campaign in Champua constituency in Odisha’s Keonjhar district is keenly watched by political leaders and election observers as it has been identified as one of the very few expenditure-sensitive constituencies in the State.
And more than the electoral battle, the results are likely to decide, who would have the upper hand in establishing clout over the multibillion rupee mineral trade in the region.
Of the 11 candidates, who have filed nominations from the seat, four are independents. Five political parties – the BJP, Congress, BJD, CPI, and the Aam Aadmi Party - have fielded candidates. The rest two belong to lesser-known political outfits such as the Bahujan Mukti Party and the Rashtriya Independent Morcha.
Campaigning in the seat, which is going to polls in the second phase on April 17, has just picked up. At present, Sanatan Mahakud and Kusha Apat, who have considerable influence on movement of iron ore, are ahead of others.
Both Mr. Mahakud and Mr. Apat had meteoric rise in politics. Months ago, both were frontline leaders of the Congress and the BJD in Keonjhar district. But they came out of the party fold and flung themselves as independent candidates.
Voters are mainly daily-wage earners, whose bread and butter comes from the mineral trade. According to locals, the direct contest between the two independent candidates had commenced much before the election dates were announced. They have tactically established their area domination in separate panchayats.
Interaction with villagers makes it clear that the families of cadre and voters are being paid ‘monthly allowance’ by an independent candidate right from the panchayat elections, 2012. “On behalf of my family, I used to receive Rs. 1,000 as monthly allowance. Once I failed to turn up at a meeting convened by the candidate and my monthly allowance was stopped,” said Soren Munda, a native of Bholabeda village, which is surrounded by four big iron ore mines.
Despite being close to mines that generate thousands of crore of rupees from iron ore extraction, 200 families reside amid backbreaking poverty. The agriculture has been damaged by the intensive mining and poor villagers turn to ‘funds’ released by wealthy candidates. Unemployment caused by the recent closure of many iron ore mines has emerged a big issue in Champua constituency. Most of the villages here lack basic amenities like drinking water and electricity. Apprehensions are rife that ‘distribution’ or ‘promise’ of cash to the villagers would tilt the equation in the electoral battle.
