Once infamous for drought and starvation in the 1980s, the Kalahandi Lok Sabha constituency in western Odisha has witnessed a significant transformation, with political parties vying for credit for its development. The operationalisation of the Indravati Irrigation project and schemes like the Revised Long-Term Action Plan (RLTAP) have played a pivotal role in the region’s progress.
Political parties, including the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Indian National Congress (Congress), are promising further development if elected. All three parties have fielded fresh faces in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, considering Kalahandi’s history of electing a new MP in each of the last three parliamentary polls.
The BJD, BJP, and Congress have attributed the region’s transformation to their respective efforts. The BJD credits Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s initiatives for changing the face of Kalahandi, while the BJP highlights projects worth ₹3,000 crore completed during the tenure of sitting MP Basant Kumar Panda. The Congress, on the other hand, emphasizes its commitment to the tribals and the poor.
Kalahandi Lok Sabha constituency comprises seven assembly segments – Nuapada and Khariar in Nuapada district, and Lanjigarth, Junagarh, Dharamgarh, Bhawanipatna, and Narla in Kalahandi district. The seat will go to the polls on May 13 during the fourth phase of elections, and voters will decide which party’s promises and track record they find most convincing.
