One of the poorest candidates wins Rayagada MLA seat while richest bites dust

BHUBANESWAR: Makaranda Muduli, only independent candidate of the state who won Rayagada assembly seat, has proved that only money power or property cannot help win an election. While the rich candidates bite the dust, Muduli set an example for the candidates who do not have huge money.
The 46-year-old tribal man, who has declared his assets worth only Rs 15,000, withstood Naveen and Modi wave without taking support from any party or big man. He defeated former minister and three-time BJD MLA Lal Bihari Himirika with a margin of 4,870 votes.
On the contrary, the richest MLA candidate in fray, Bobby Mohanty, from Baramba assembly constituency got only 6,224 votes with a vote share of 3.58 per cent. This congress candidate has declared assets worth Rs 106 crore in his election affidavit.
Even third richest MLA candidate and Congress state president Niranjan Patnaik (assets worth Rs 60 crore) lost election in Ghasipura and Bhandaripokhari assembly seats. Besides, several crorepatis could not win the elections despite spending huge money.
Muduli, a native of Khatalapadar village under Doraguda police station in Rayagada district, got a total of 52,844 votes followed by BJD’s Himirika (47,974 votes), Congress’s Kadraka Appalaswamy (39,657) and BJP’s Basanta Kumar Ullaka (24,425).
“My supporters and well-wishers know that I do not have house, vehicles and money to hold campaigns or rallies like big parties and rich candidates. Instead of asking for money to hold any programme, they organised it by crowd funding. Even I travelled with supporters’ motorcycles and attended several village meetings during election campaign,” said Muduli.
He lamented that he could not pay his election agents at polling booths. “I have not asked anybody to fund my campaign. Even I covered several villages by walking and had lunch and dinner at the houses of supporters. I am a bachelor and do not have any permanent income source,” he added.
Muduli is known for his activism in Kashipur area against encroachment of tribal land by corporate houses. This social activist has been fighting for Jhodia people to get tribal status. Jhodia community is not happy with political parties or their leaders for not raising their issue in the state or the Centre. Anger of this tribe helped the independent candidate to get more votes.
This newly elected MLA, a post graduate, has started his political career in the year 2000. He had contested unsuccessfully from Laxmipur assembly seat in 2004. Later he joined Congress in 2008 and fought against Himirika in 2014 from Rayagada seat. He lost the election with a thin margin.
Muduli said he will try to help people of his constituency to increase their per capita income and focus on welfare of farmers, health, education and skill development.