For CPM, Laxman Munda lone man standing in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: Laxman Munda, 56, of Communist party of India (Marxist) won the Bonai assembly seat under Sundergarh Lok Sabha constituency by defeating BJD’s Ranjit Kishan with a margin of 12,030 votes. With this victory, the left party got only one seat in the state.
Naveen and Modi wave could not create any impact in his constituency as he has a dedicated support base in Bonai. He got 59,939 votes against Kishan’s 47,909 votes. This three-time MLA from this reserved seat has already won the election in 2004 and 2014. But he had lost the seat in 2009 to BJP’s Bhimsen Choudhury with a narrow margin of 3,356 votes.
Before 2004, candidates from BJP, Congress and other parties were winning the seat. But Munda, a native of Sarasposh village under K Balang police limits in Sundergarh district, made this seat as left bastion by winning it for three times. This time, his aides focused on panchayats and conducted campaigns at every booth by involving local supporters.
“I am involved in several labour unions and support people especially labourers at the time of their need. I have staged protest meetings and movements against the governments for not fulfilling people’s demand. Besides, I reach out to people whenever they need me. I do not have any restriction for people and anybody can come and meet me,” said Munda, an alumnus of Sambalpur University.
The communist leader said people are not happy with the state government’s policy because it is not implemented with letter and spirit. “People love me because I do not fool them like the state and Central governments. I never utter false promises and work for them silently. My straightforwardness is the key to woo the voters,” he added.
Munda said he will focus on building good roads connecting villages with major roads, supply of drinking water and development of farmers along with labourers in his areas. He will also try to make Bonai a notified area council (NAC). “I hope the state government will help us without having any biased view,” he added.
On debacle of his party, he said right wing uprising is witnessed in the entire world including India. Some corporate houses have been controlling the major parties and help these parties to stop the communists, but this trend will not sustain for long. “The moment people realize the autocratic behavior of the government, they will need us and we will come back with full force. This bad phase will not last long,” he added.