Odisha: In the Dharmgarh assembly seat, all three parties anticipate support from a single group

The Dharmgarh Assembly segment has become a prestige war for the governing Biju Janata Dal, which is in a close race with the Congress and the BJP. However, the dynamics of caste will be important for the seat.

Congress nominee Rasmirekha Raut and BJP candidate Sudhir Ranjan Pattjoshi will square off against BJD district president and former minister Puspendra Singh Deo.

Singh Deo was elected to the Assembly in 2004 from the Koksara Assembly seat; however, in the 2009 and 2014 elections, he selected the Dharmgarh sector. He ran unsuccessfully in the 2019 election from the Kalahandi Parliamentary seat. The BJD candidate for 2019 was Mahosidhi Bag, who garnered significant support from his Goud/Jadav clan, which is well-represented in the area.

For their part, Congress candidate Raut and BJP candidate Pattjoshi are both taking a chance. Pattjoshi has a grassroots following, and PM Narendra Modi is assisting him in the background. Additionally, the BJP is optimistic because to the pro-Modi sentiment emanating from neighboring Chhattisgarh.

The Congress has deftly used Raut as their candidate, playing the Jadav/Goud card, even though it was largely seen as a contest between the BJD and the BJP. The Dharmgarh Assembly segment’s substantial community might cause a rift in the BJD voter base.

In addition, the Bag factor will be taken into consideration. A portion of the population is reportedly resentful that the former MLA’s ticket was refused, and this might affect the election’s result.

Singh Deo, a former minister and the head of the governing party’s district branch, makes it a prestigious position for the BJD.

Amid all the numbers games, Congress is working hard to organize Goud votes for its community-based candidate. On the other side, Malavika Keshari Deo, the BJD candidate for the Kalahandi Lok Sabha constituency, is mobilizing Jadav/Goud votes.

A portion of the Goud community’s voters have historically supported the BJP and the royal family. The Goud community is confused as a result of this. Under such circumstances, BJD will have a difficult struggle ahead, with an intriguing conclusion anticipated overall.