Candidates from the ruling Biju Janata Dal, BJP and Congress in Nabarangpur Lok Sabha seat in Koraput, Odisha are trying to woo Bengali migrant residents as their votes could affect the electoral fortunes in the constituency.
The Bengali community consists largely of Scheduled Caste people who came from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) during the 1960s and 1970s and settled in 214 villages of Malkangiri district and Nabarangapu after obtaining Indian citizenship in the early 1970s. Lived in 64 villages of the district.
Elections will be held on Nabarangpur seat on 13 May.
The Bengali community, with about 1.5 lakh voters, wields considerable influence in the Nabarangapur parliamentary constituency, which includes four assembly constituencies in Nabarangapur district, two in Malkangiri district and one in Koraput district.
Their votes are having a significant impact on electoral dynamics, with political parties making sincere efforts to secure their loyalty.
BJD candidate Pradeep Majhi said, “The state government has done a lot for the development of Bengali residents in the last five years.Since most of the Bengali residents of Malkangiri are farmers, irrigation facilities have been provided to them and infrastructure has been strengthened in the village dominated by Bengalis.”
“Last time, Bengali voters had chosen BJD and I am confident that this time too they will vote for us,” he said.
However, expressing confidence that Bengali people will support the saffron party, BJP candidate Balbhadra Majhi said, "Bengali people want to see Modi as the Prime Minister and for this, they will vote for BJP for their all-round development."
Not lagging behind in wooing Bengali residents, Congress candidate Bhujba Majhi said, “Bengali voters are intelligent voters and we have confidence in their acumen to make informed choices.,
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on May 9 campaigned in Malkangir district for the BJP candidate to woo Bengalis to provide Bengali language teachers in schools and rename their villages.
Sarma delivered his speech mostly in Bengali and called on people to vote on the lotus symbol.
Malkangiri political analyst Ram Patnaik said, "The support of Bengali voters is very important for any tribal candidate who wants to win the elections. Undoubtedly, the Bengali order will prevail in the Nabarangpur constituency."
Traditionally, the BJP enjoyed the support of Bengali residents.However, the scenario seems to be changing, with the ruling BJD making inroads into Bengali villages, potentially making a dent in past loyalties.
Ashok Halder, president of the Matua community of Bengali residents, highlighted the changing dynamics, stressing on BJD's proactive stance to address community concerns from 2022.
This shift in allegiance manifested itself in the 2022 rural elections when the BJD made significant gains from one Zilla Parishad seat in 2017 and won 12 of the 15 Zilla Parishad seats in 2022.
“We supported BJD in the 2022 rural elections and the party has always been with us,” said Haldar, a resident of MV-72 village.
Halder's sentiment echoes the sentiments of many Bengali residents frustrated by past political neglect.Despite their judicious approach in candidate selection, the Matua community, comprising around 30,000 voters, leans towards the BJD.
However, unresolved grievances remain within the Bengali community.
Sapan Kirtaniya, patron of the Malkangiri Bengali Samaj, explained the community demands, which included recognition of revenue villages, inclusion of Bengal language in the school curriculum and availability of land for families returning from the Sundarbans of West Bengal.
Kirtaniya said, “Bengali voters will vote as per their preferences and will keep an eye on the political scenario."
The Bengali community consists largely of Scheduled Caste people who came from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) during the 1960s and 1970s and settled in 214 villages of Malkangiri district and Nabarangapu after obtaining Indian citizenship in the early 1970s. Lived in 64 villages of the district.
Elections will be held on Nabarangpur seat on 13 May.
The Bengali community, with about 1.5 lakh voters, wields considerable influence in the Nabarangapur parliamentary constituency, which includes four assembly constituencies in Nabarangapur district, two in Malkangiri district and one in Koraput district.
Their votes are having a significant impact on electoral dynamics, with political parties making sincere efforts to secure their loyalty.
BJD candidate Pradeep Majhi said, “The state government has done a lot for the development of Bengali residents in the last five years.Since most of the Bengali residents of Malkangiri are farmers, irrigation facilities have been provided to them and infrastructure has been strengthened in the village dominated by Bengalis.”
“Last time, Bengali voters had chosen BJD and I am confident that this time too they will vote for us,” he said.
However, expressing confidence that Bengali people will support the saffron party, BJP candidate Balbhadra Majhi said, "Bengali people want to see Modi as the Prime Minister and for this, they will vote for BJP for their all-round development."
Not lagging behind in wooing Bengali residents, Congress candidate Bhujba Majhi said, “Bengali voters are intelligent voters and we have confidence in their acumen to make informed choices.,
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on May 9 campaigned in Malkangir district for the BJP candidate to woo Bengalis to provide Bengali language teachers in schools and rename their villages.
Sarma delivered his speech mostly in Bengali and called on people to vote on the lotus symbol.
Malkangiri political analyst Ram Patnaik said, "The support of Bengali voters is very important for any tribal candidate who wants to win the elections. Undoubtedly, the Bengali order will prevail in the Nabarangpur constituency."
Traditionally, the BJP enjoyed the support of Bengali residents.However, the scenario seems to be changing, with the ruling BJD making inroads into Bengali villages, potentially making a dent in past loyalties.
Ashok Halder, president of the Matua community of Bengali residents, highlighted the changing dynamics, stressing on BJD's proactive stance to address community concerns from 2022.
This shift in allegiance manifested itself in the 2022 rural elections when the BJD made significant gains from one Zilla Parishad seat in 2017 and won 12 of the 15 Zilla Parishad seats in 2022.
“We supported BJD in the 2022 rural elections and the party has always been with us,” said Haldar, a resident of MV-72 village.
Halder's sentiment echoes the sentiments of many Bengali residents frustrated by past political neglect.Despite their judicious approach in candidate selection, the Matua community, comprising around 30,000 voters, leans towards the BJD.
However, unresolved grievances remain within the Bengali community.
Sapan Kirtaniya, patron of the Malkangiri Bengali Samaj, explained the community demands, which included recognition of revenue villages, inclusion of Bengal language in the school curriculum and availability of land for families returning from the Sundarbans of West Bengal.
Kirtaniya said, “Bengali voters will vote as per their preferences and will keep an eye on the political scenario."
