Naveen Patnaik shines in Hinjli

BERHAMPUR: The Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supremo, Naveen Patnaik won for the third time in a row from the Hinjli Assembly segment in Ganjam district of the State .

His grip over his own home turf was evident. The BJD and its allies made an almost clean sweep in his home district Ganjam by winning 12 out of 13 Assembly seats. Both the Berhampur and Aska parliamentary constituencies were also nabbed by the BJD. The BJD chief also enhanced his win margin. The BJD activists of Ganjam district had aimed that the winning margin of their party chief should exceed 50,000 votes. But despite low polling in Hinjli this time Mr. Patnaik defeated his Congress rival and former State minister, Raghab Parida by a margin of over 61,000 votes.

Sanakhemundi was the only Assembly segment where the Congress candidate, Ramesh Jena could register a win to save the face of the party amidst this BJD wave. The BJD had left this seat for its ally the CPI. The CPI however managed to win in Chatrapur, the other Assembly segment it was fighting in Ganjam district as part of electoral alliance.

Regular touch with his home turf could bring in this electoral result. Mr. Patnaik has been grooming this district as his experimental ground for developmental projects. He had started his political career from Aska parliamentary constituency of this district in 1997. Since then he never lost touch with this area. He never forgot to visit his home turf at least once every month.

The Women’s Self Help Groups (WSHG) movement initiated by him in Ganjam district during the 90s has provided him a major support base. It was continuation of Biju Patnaik’s dream-“Gaon ku kama, Maa ku Samman” said Nityananda Pradhan, the BJD candidate who won from Aska Lok Sabha seat.

In January at Mr. Patnaik’s call over 25,000 WSHG members had congregated for a meeting at Hinjli. This emotional feeling of emancipated women with the Chief Minister surely translated into votes for the BJD. And voters of Ganjam district also showed up their pride by getting ready.