BHUBANESWAR: BJD on Monday declared edu-entrepreneur Achyuta Samanta as its candidate from the Kandhamal Lok Sabha seat for the general elections. The tribal-dominated Kandhamal had made news for riots towards Christians within the 2000s.
Samanta, founding father of the KIIT and KISS staff of institutions, was once sent to the Rajya Sabha by way of BJD in 2018. He has a powerful following amongst tribals on account of KISS, which offers loose schooling and accommodation to more than 20,000 tribal students
"I am very happy and grateful to BJD president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik for the honour. For the last 30 years, I have been working for the development of scheduled caste and scheduled tribe people. I now hope to carry on the same work right from the grass- roots level in Kandhamal to ensure their development," Samanta said.
Experts said Naveen played a tribal card by way of fielding Samanta in Kandhamal as the parliamentary constituency seat is an unreserved seat although tribals form a sizable population of it. Similarly, for Samanta the 2019 Lok Sabha election is a chance to enter into direct politics.
"Naveen has been very calculative in selecting Achyuta Samanta for Kandhamal seat. Samanta has a pro-tribal image for his social work. He is soft spoken, has a clean and non-controversial image and has acceptability among both the Hindus and Christians," Surya Narayan Mishra, political analyst and former political science professor of Utkal University, said.
Samanta has started paintings within the constituency for the last few months and had lately laid the foundation of a branch of KISS just for Christian girls and boys at Simanbadi close to Daringibadi in Kandhamal district. "The CM wants to pay special attention to Kandhamal district. I am sure I will fulfil the hope and trust that he has reposed in me ," Samanta added.
Sources said BJD was once searching for a new face for Kandhamal. The constituency has been a BJD robust dangle where the birthday celebration won in 2009 common elections in spite of polarisation following the homicide of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati in 2008 and in addition in 2014. In 2014, BJD candidate Hemendra Chandra Singh won with a sizable margin but after his premature dying BJD fielded Singhs wife Pratyusha Rajeswari Singh who retained the seat in a by-election.
Samanta, founding father of the KIIT and KISS staff of institutions, was once sent to the Rajya Sabha by way of BJD in 2018. He has a powerful following amongst tribals on account of KISS, which offers loose schooling and accommodation to more than 20,000 tribal students
"I am very happy and grateful to BJD president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik for the honour. For the last 30 years, I have been working for the development of scheduled caste and scheduled tribe people. I now hope to carry on the same work right from the grass- roots level in Kandhamal to ensure their development," Samanta said.
Experts said Naveen played a tribal card by way of fielding Samanta in Kandhamal as the parliamentary constituency seat is an unreserved seat although tribals form a sizable population of it. Similarly, for Samanta the 2019 Lok Sabha election is a chance to enter into direct politics.
"Naveen has been very calculative in selecting Achyuta Samanta for Kandhamal seat. Samanta has a pro-tribal image for his social work. He is soft spoken, has a clean and non-controversial image and has acceptability among both the Hindus and Christians," Surya Narayan Mishra, political analyst and former political science professor of Utkal University, said.
Samanta has started paintings within the constituency for the last few months and had lately laid the foundation of a branch of KISS just for Christian girls and boys at Simanbadi close to Daringibadi in Kandhamal district. "The CM wants to pay special attention to Kandhamal district. I am sure I will fulfil the hope and trust that he has reposed in me ," Samanta added.
Sources said BJD was once searching for a new face for Kandhamal. The constituency has been a BJD robust dangle where the birthday celebration won in 2009 common elections in spite of polarisation following the homicide of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati in 2008 and in addition in 2014. In 2014, BJD candidate Hemendra Chandra Singh won with a sizable margin but after his premature dying BJD fielded Singhs wife Pratyusha Rajeswari Singh who retained the seat in a by-election.
Lok Sabha polls: BJD projects Achyuta Samanta as its face in Kandhamal
![Lok Sabha polls: BJD projects Achyuta Samanta as its face in Kandhamal]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
March 19, 2019
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