Cong, BJP hope to have better show

Banking on poor civic facilities, lack of development and alleged role of BJD corporators in looting of relief materials, Congress and BJP are pinning hopes to form next Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) council elections for which are slated next month.

On the other hand, encouraged by the performance of the party in recent Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, BJD leaders are hopeful to retain the Council. "The Bhubaneswar result will boost the morale of our party cadres here," said the Cuttack-Barabati MLA Debashis Samantray

Other small political parties like Aama Odisha, Odisha Jana Morcha, Utkal Bharat and Left parties like CPI (M), CPI and SUCI are also getting ready to field candidates for the February 6 elections. Although, these parties are not serious contenders, a few of them have capabilities to spoil the applecart of major political parties.

"Unlike in Bhubaneswar, BJD in Cuttack city would be fighting the elections on back foot for the party MP, legislators and the outgoing mayor here have terribly failed to live up to the expectations of the people. BJD in has neglected the Millennium city more than anyone else," said eminent lyricist Swarup Naik.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, is emerging out to put a major challenge to BJD till now. The party is trying to woo younger voters of in the name and popularity of its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. The party has enrolled hundreds of college students in the name of Modi.

"Next month's election will be fought between a corrupt BJD and the people of the city," said senior BJP leader and former minister Samir Dey, who was elected from here as MLA for three consecutive terms. BJP has already zeroed in identifying candidates for all the 59 wards of CMC.

Congress, main opposition party in the council, is not lagging behind in its campaign till date. Although, the party has not yet decided whether it would field candidates in all the wards, senior leaders here are claiming that Congress would form the next council in the civic body.

"We will provide a corruption-free, transparent and progressive council that would work sincerely to restore the lost glory of the historic city," said City Congress president Md Moqim. Meanwhile, SUCI (Communist) yesterday announced the names of two party candidates who would contest the next month's election from ward number 38 and 39. While Deepak Ranjan Das would contest from Ward No. 38, Nirupama Behera would fight from the other.