Other States - Orissa   

Crorepati contestants

The elections provide a chance for general voters to assess the qualitative and quantitative difference between them and the political leaders for whom poverty happens to be the trump card in electoral politics.

In so-called underdeveloped Ganjam district of underdeveloped Orissa, there are crorepatis fighting the elections to alleviate the poor.

They include BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik, whose assets are worth Rs. 7.90 crores. He is contesting from Hinjli. Surjya Narayan Patro, Cabinet Minister in Naveen’s Government, who is contesting from Digaphandi has declared that he and his wife possess properties worth Rs. 2.21 crores. Sugnani Deo, the BJD candidate from Kavisuryanagar has declared that she has properties worth Rs. 5.5 crores.

The Congress does not lag behind. Its youth leader Bikram Kumar Panda, who is contesting from Berhampur, along with his wife, owns property worth about Rs. 2.96 crores.

Congress candidate from Chikiti Chintamani Dyansamantara declares that he has assets worth about Rs. 1 crore. Congress candidate from Surada Sayed Mubarak has property worth Rs. 1 crore. The greatest irony is when these crorepati candidates recite rhetoric about their empathy and relationship with the problems of the poor and fish out dreams of over-subsidised rice.

This ensuing election comes as a stimulus package for roadside dhabas (hotels). As the campaigning is gaining momentum, unemployed youths, who have been employed for campaigning is enjoying pleasant phase of their life. After day-long labour under scorching sun, they can lay hand on any food item in the menu in hotels and leaders are bound to oblige them.

Dhaba owners are raking mullahs. As these expenses are hardly accounted by leaders, these hotel operators do not hesitate to make bill bulky ones. Some say the profit to be made during election process would enable them run their business for next one year without any hiccups.

Some cunning youths have gone a step ahead. In connivance with dhaba owners, they deliberately make hefty bills so that they could extend their fun times even after elections when leaders would start distancing themselves.

(Sib Kumar Das and Satyasundar Barik)

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