Sambalpur: Western Odisha has given more women MLAs, Success of women in By-Elections
Sambalpur: The role of women in western politics, social service and public movements is important, but once they were neglected in the field of politics. However, Western Odisha has sent more women to the Legislative Assembly than other regions of the state. While such an opportunity has arisen due to the plebiscite, another possibility has arisen in the context of the Jharsuguda assembly plebiscite.
Out of 147 seats in the Odisha assembly, women are represented in only 15 seats. However, out of these 15 people, only the people of West Odisha have sent 6 people to the assembly. In the 2019 election, only Sehhangini Chharia from Atabira, Tukuni Sahu from Titilagarh and Kusum Tette from Sundargarh won, while three more women have been elected in recent elections. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s 22-member cabinet has given importance to women. Out of the 22-member cabinet, 5 people have got the opportunity to become ministers. And, in this, 2 leaders of West Odisha, Tukuni Sahu and Rita Sahu, have got the ministerial position of important departments.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik contested the 2019 elections from 2 constituencies in Ganjam district along with Bijepur seat in Bargarh district. However, he won by large margins from both constituencies. Out of these two seats, he chose to keep his traditional Hinjali seat. After his resignation from Bijepur, a referendum situation arose. Former Congress leader Rita Sahu created a record by winning the election with a huge margin. When Naveen Patnaik announced that he would take the responsibility of Bijepur assembly area during the by-election, he gave the post of minister to Rita Sahu during the reshuffle of his cabinet last June 2022.
Former Health Minister Nab Das left the Congress and joined the BJD. That’s where his success came from. After Kishore’s untimely death, his wife Alka made Mohanty a BJM candidate. Alka also defeated BJP’s Radharani Panda by a wide margin. After the untimely demise of former minister and Padmapur MLA Vijay Ranjan Singh Bariha, the BJD fielded his daughter Raina Singh Bariha in the referendum. He faced BJP’s heavyweight leader Pradeep Purohit. It was expected to be a fierce competition. Then, putting an end to all speculations, Raina Singh Bariha defeated Pradeep by a huge margin.
After the murder of Jharsuguda MLA and Health Minister Nab Das, now the bugle has sounded for the referendum. BJD Nab Das’s daughter Deepali Das has come down to the Maidan when the elections are going to be held next month. BJP and Congress have not yet announced who they will field. Looking at the record of the referendum, BJD’s position is heavy. If, like BJD, BJP and Congress nominate women candidates, it is estimated that the number of women’s representation in the Assembly from Western Odisha will increase again if any of them is elected.
