Positive politics on his lips, Samanta seeks votes in Naveen’s name

Phulbani/Bhanjanagar: After getting a ticket from BJD for the Kandhamal Lok Sabha seat, Samanta made a detailed plan to reach out to voters in the forested and hilly areas of his constituency, spread over the districts of Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Boudh and Ganjam. As the constituency is a BJD stronghold, he was assured of the fact that people would attend his rally in large numbers, especially those held in the weekly haats.
But Samanta is not complacent. His involvement in social service through Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences has helped him learn the tribal tongue. At a campaign meeting at Dadki tribal haat in Phulbani block, he addresses women with a sentence in Kui and earns appreciative smiles.

“I have come here to serve you. I have been in the field of social service for the past 27 years. People have seen my work but I want to do something more for Kandhamal,” says Samanta, while addressing the meeting.

The sandal-shod activist, clad in a white shirt and blue pants, with a Reynolds pen tucked in his pocket, is free with his smiles and warmth. He is currently staying in a hotel in Phulbani, the headquarters town of Kandhamal, and wakes up early at 5.30 am to go out on a morning walk. In the process, he meets people and discusses different issues of the district over a cup of tea at a local stall. Tuesday morning is no different.

He returns to the hotel at 7.30 am. Before entering the premises, he meets a group of women from nearby villages and hears their issues. He smiles and assures them that he will solve their problems. After a discussion with party workers, he leaves for Bhanjanagar at 9 am for a road show.

The BJD man says he has not uttered a single word criticising his rivals in the campaign. “I believe in positive politics. I have come here to beg for votes in the name of chief minister Naveen Patnaik. I do not think that belittling or mocking others will help me in the election,” he adds, while going to Bhanjanagar in Ganjam district.

Samanta, along with Bhanjanagar MLA candidate Bikram Keshari Arukha, begins the road show after paying obeisance to Maa Thakurani at a temple in Bhanjanagar. Braving the sun, they go past Nahatotha Sahi, Ratha Sahi, Sivananda Marg, market area, Khalasi Sahi, High school chak, State Bank Square and Bagdevi road. The high-decibel campaign ends at 3pm.

“The response is overwhelming. I feel very positive about my result,” smiles Samanta while returning to Phulbani.