BHUBANESWAR: It was a hype even the spin doctors of all the three parties were not initially ready to believe. But political survival put so much at stake. Knowing well that heavens would not fall whichever way the voters’ mood swings, the party managers left nothing to chance. So if BJP roped in leaders like Chief Minister Raman Singh from bordering Chhattisgarh, BJD ensured that party heavyweights and ministers make the rounds for pretty long. The Congress too sensed the probable, and made a high-voltage campaign drama. But the much needed breakthrough did not come. Now, with the results out, the BJP and the Congress have taken the usual chores of blaming the BJD for ‘abuse’ of official machinery, and rampant use of money and muscle power. Both parties are not comfortable with panchayat polls just months away. State Congress general secretary Arya Kumar Gyanendra described the BJD win as a victory of black money and misuse of official machinery. Though there was rampant violation of election code of conduct by the ministers and MLAs, the administration turned a blind eye, he charged. BJP spokesperson Ashok Sahu, however, described the BJD victory as strange. During the election campaign and after the poll was over, nobody even the BJD leaders did not anticipate such a huge margin. In fact, BJD leaders were not able to campaign effectively in seven gram panchayats in Raighar block, he said and added that the victory with such a huge margin has raised suspicion. High polling in several pockets bordering Chhattisgarh had raised BJP hopes of a victory. But Sahu said in 52 booths which recorded more than 80 per cent polling (highest was 90 pc), 95 per cent of the votes went to the BJD candidate. BJP and Congress candidates were ahead in booths in which comparatively low polling was recorded. The high margin of BJD victory and these trends have raised suspicion about the reliability of the electronic voting machines (EVMs). The Election Commission should also take cognisance of such matters, he said. But the moot question is how to bring about a change in Odisha? The Umerkote bypoll could have brought a new trend in the State’s politics, but that has not possible due to the BJD victory, he said. But what has surprised observers that an electoral win still eludes the Opposition parties despite the number of scams coming to light during the third term of Naveen Patnaik as Chief Minister.
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