Bargarh is one of the 21 Lok Sabha constituencies in Odisha, which is known locally as ‘Padampur; Bijpur; Bargarh; Attabila; Bhatli; Brajaraj Nagar and Jharsugu Da’ presided by all seven Legislative Assembly segments represented by the ruling party in the state, Biju Janata Dal.
Presently, Suresh Pujari from Bharatiya Janata Party is the MP representing Bargarh. But this time BJP gave its ticket to Pradip Purohit while Parineeta Mishra is also a top contestant here .
The fifth phase for polling in Odisha Lok Sabha seats will be conducted on May 20th during these ongoing general elections and counting of votes done on June 4th.
Politics
In 2019, BJP had an unexpected win at the Bargarh Lok Sabha constituency when Suresh Pujari won with more than 63000 votes ahead of a formidable opponent in Prasanna Acharya of the BJD. What was particularly remarkable about that election was that voters made clear distinctions between state and assembly elections. Even though it won all seven parliamentary segments in 2019, its candidates for parliament lost to those of BJP who preferred voting for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reelection bid.
There have been no repeated instances where both BJD or BJPhave elected an MP candidate from Bargarh since it became a constituency in 2008 . Both parties still changed their candidates this time. The BJP nominated Pradip Purohit but extended a seat offer to incumbent MP Suresh Pujari into Vidhan Sabah. On the other hand, senior leader Prasanna Acharya is reported to have denied contesting from within there again under BJP banner into assembly segment indicating which way things are moving here.
It was therefore interesting that despite being largely seen as political newbie by most in 2019, BJP won. All the same, he defeated a senior leader from BJD indicating that this saffron party had somehow built an organic vote bank for itself in Bargarh without much concern for parliamentary candidates, merely voting for PM Modi.
Now five years later, the saffron camp is looking forward to a similar wave of support for Prime Minister Modi to retain Bargarh. Pradip Purohit is a known face in Bargarh from BJP who has been hitting out against Odisha’s BJD government and where his organizational capacity was widely reported. In his campaign, Purohit emphasized various developmental and welfare schemes introduced by Modi government.
Ground information suggests that BJP has largely won Bargarh war. It follows that voters have already made up their minds on whom they should vote—whether in congressional or state elections. In the assembly polls too, people of Bargarh are likely to favor BJP over any other political party. Actually even at the level of State Assembly elections it appears that this party is locked in an uphill contest against BJP primarily because majority of voters also wish for change either at local or regional levels. After all this time, they say; “BJD”
Bargarh is being swept by the “Modi wave”. Therefore, people here are motivated to support the BJP mainly because of Modi. They have made their final decision and it is clear that they are going to vote for BJP despite the fact that central schemes were renamed by the government of BJP and many initiatives taken up by PM Modi. In this scenario, BJD is not expected to wrestle this seat from a saffron party.
BJD has been completely taken aback after BJP won Bargarh in 2019. Now, however, it has decided to launch its own attack as well as adopt a strategy of surprise with regard to candidature within this constituency. Parineeta Mishra, a political novice from the constituency, was fielded by Biju Janata Dal. Just hours after joining ruling party with husband Susanta Mishra, BJD announced Parineeta as its candidate. Actually, Naveen and Susanta are all on whom BJD hinges its hopes of winning Bargarh.
Susanta used to be vice-president of Bargah district unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) before quitting this party and joining Bharatiya Janta Dal (BJD) together with his wife Sushantha Mishra. Sushantha Mishra wants herself ticket from Bartley seat. However, Mishra resigned when he learnt that Acharya Irasis was going to be put forward for parliamentary seat nomination by BJP in retaliation for which another political party soon approached him for an opportunity where his wife could contest as a Lok Sabha candidate from Bargarh.
Even though she is standing on behalf of the BJP in these elections; Parineeta Mishra’s success can only be guaranteed through her husband Sushantha Mishra’s image and influence among people in Bargarh along with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik defeating India People’s Party. The main reason why BJD wooed the Mishras is because it saw an opening to wrest away some of saffron party’s vote bank through heavy-weights like Sushantha Mishra.
While from a purely electoral perspective Sushanta Mishra is a welcome addition to BJD, he hardly stands against the tide of Modi wave that has hit Bargarh. In this case, the combined political capital of Sushantha Mishra and Naveen Patnaik cannot defeat BJP here since most voters have made up their minds. These voters do not even listen to party campaigns because they already know who they are going to vote for even before the election day is announced.
Question
The farmers’ problem: Farmers in Bargarh have several problems. This area lacks any cold storage units or food processing factories, which is a huge requirement. Export tariffs need to be reduced at least. So far as local markets’ lack of cold storage facilities and volatility in prices of rice are concerned, farmers export their produce over neighboring countries. However, there has been a controversy over government’s rise in export tariffs. Another major problem for farmers pertaining to pest attack on crops has resulted into crop failure hence increasing debt pressure among farmers. Also, there is another issue where MSP needs to be increased by; hence increase MSP rates delayed for far too long according to reports from Bargarh farmers who claim to be supporting farmer protests in Haryana and Punjab. However, despite such matters they will still continue voting for BJP at Centre level.
Railway connections: Railway connectivity has been a major challenge for the people here. There are no major railway junctions in this constituency. Major trains do not go via Bargarh. Bargarh farmers cannot get to the capital or marketing hubs to sell their farm products. The central government hopes that by opening the Bargarh-Nupada railway line it can address this issue. Currently, the construction of this line is still ongoing and its impact remains uncertain.
Unemployment: Unemployment remains a thorny issue in Bargarh. In absence of any industry in the area, people find work elsewhere than there home towns. Agriculture engages 70% of the population in this region. Many people particularly youth move into urban centers and industrial corridors for better jobs as daily wage laborers or at brick-laying kilns in Maharashtra.
Municipal facilities: There are many concerns with regard to municipal facilities around Bargarh beginning from unclean drinking water, poor health services to lack of educational infrastructure. This is, however, not applicable to inland areas and rural areas even though some cities have access to government medical facility partly. The same thing applies on education again. Locals often complain about lack of infrastructure for education which they say is one of the main causes why it did not develop and grow.
Road connections: Internal connectivity within this region has always been bad. Rural roads within seven-eight rural blocks across the constituency are dilapidated while there is a shortage of all-weather roads in other places too. Although road construction commenced recently, ensuring quality work on behalf of contractors was difficult since most of them never conformed to standards thereby precipitating massive deterioration along these routes.That said however, lack all-season paved roads is a curse since when it rains such rural roads turn into muddy puddles causing impassable upon them.
Ram Mandir: Ayodhya Ram Mandir wave continues in Bargarh.People were in awe of the central government for realizing their dream of a grand temple. The Ram Mandir wave has reportedly enveloped this constituency, and its people have already decided to vote for BJP and its Modi at the center.
Infrastructure
Bargarh-Nupada Railway Line: Last year, Odisha’s special project with Central Government approval is a 142 km railway line. It goes from Padampur to Bargarh Road.
High-level infrastructure projects: There are three construction projects currently approved by the Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in Bargarh; an elevated bridge across the Hirakud dam reservoir, widening and strengthening of Patnagar-Padhanpur road and Bargarh-Batli-Ambabona road.
Bizhu Expressway: It intends to link several rural centers with each other, bridge the gap in infrastructure and foster industrial development in previously neglected areas. Still under construction. The initial phase will begin on March 2023.
Water conservancy and irrigation projects: In Ambabhona block, Sikridhi Large Pipe Water Supply Scheme has been initiated or completed or is ongoing while large scale lift irrigation scheme known as Gangadhar Meher LLI scheme at Kumurkela village crossing semi-permanent forest land as done by Ambabhona block villagers.There are120 villages situated over 30,000 hectares of land that will be irrigated through this project within Barpali blocks of Bijepur block Sohela Block. All houses in Gaisilat block areas,Gaisilat Block,Bijepur,Bijepur block,Barpali,and Barpali blocks will receive piped water via mega water supply scheme.
Railway infrastructure: The new route has been electrified and commissioned, connecting Bargarh to Jharsuguda, making it a more smooth journey. A good number of passenger facilities were added such as these: new platforms, waiting rooms with pedestrian bridges, better lights and signs. Since then stations at Bargarh and Barpali installed CCTV cameras for security purposes. Ticket vending machines have also been installed among other things like selling points and water vending machines.
Important constituencies 2024 Lok Sabha elections fourth phase detailed schedule
