Congressmen on their own sides regarding lack of funds in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: With only five days left for the first phase of voting in the state, campaigning has intensified but except a few seats where veteran leaders or their relatives are in the fray, Congress candidates have been left to their fate.

Of the four Lok Sabha seats that will go to polls on May 13 in the first phase, sitting Congress MP from Koraput Saptagiri Ulaka is in the fray, while senior leader Bhujbal Majhi is in the fray from Nabarangpur. Draupadi Majhi and Rashmi Ranjan Mishra are contesting from Kalahandi and Berhampur seats respectively.

Congress’s campaign was affected from the very beginning due to lack of funds and except Koraput, the prospects of candidates in other constituencies look bleak. Classification of seats into A, B and C categories has also increased the difficulties faced by the candidates. The party was banking on at least two Lok Sabha seats, Koraput and Nabarangpur, in the first phase, while it also had a chance to contest in Kalahandi. Sources said candidates from three seats were provided minimal amount of money and the amount was inadequate in the face of high-profile campaigns launched by both BJD and BJP.

A senior party leader told The New Indian Express that the candidates have been asked to defend themselves. He said whatever funding was provided was inadequate, with only candidates with a high probability of winning being given funds. He said this has affected the party’s prospects in Nabarangpur Lok Sabha constituency and the assembly seats within it.
There is also a shortage of campaign material, including flags, banners and booklets with the party manifesto. Congress flags and banners are missing from the assembly constituencies. He said that besides this, it is very difficult to handle party workers without funds.

The party’s star campaigners have also not participated in the first phase of campaigning in the state. Former president Rahul Gandhi had addressed an election rally in Salipur on April 28, but his Rayagada rally scheduled for May 3 was cancelled. The visit of party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi and other star campaigners has also not been decided yet. Priyanka was expected to go to Nabarangpur but the date has not been decided yet.
Veteran leaders of the state are also entangled in their own constituencies. While Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Sharat Patnaik is contesting from Nuapada assembly seat, campaign committee president Bhakta Charan Das is contesting from Narla in Kalahandi district.
However, party sources said efforts were being made to finalize the dates for the visit of Rahul, Priyanka and other senior leaders to Odisha.