In Mayurbhanj, it’s ‘Odisha ki beti’ vs Naveen’s welfare schemes | India News – Times of India

BHUBANESWAR: Mayurbhanj, a tribalreserved seat and the birthplace of Droupadi Murmu, India’s first tribal president, is gearing up for an intense electoral battle between BJP and BJD as it votes in the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections on June 1.
Historically, Mayurbhanj was the last of the 26 princely states to merge with the Odisha province, signing the merger document in Oct 1948 before formally becoming a part of the state in Jan 1949.Its legacy has played a significant role in shaping the region’s cultural and political landscape.
Although there are 13 contestants in the fray, the main contest is between BJP’s Naba Charan Majhi and BJD’s Sudam Marndi. The focal point of BJP’s campaign is its decision to elevate “Odisha ki beti” to the highest constitutional post at the Raisina Hill, while CM Naveen Patnaik’s poll pitch has focused on BJD’s welfare schemes.
Majhi, a close associate of President Murmu, is banking on the goodwill of tribals due to the respect BJP has given to the community and its commitment to their welfare. “Modi govt has honoured the tribal community by picking Mayurbhanj’s Murmu as President. People realise this well,” says Majhi. BJP dropped sitting MP and Union minister of state Bishweswar Tudu to field Majhi.
BJP has also touted the inauguration of new trains and the approval of a new railway line in the region as part of its development agenda. President Murmu herself had flagged off three new trains through Mayurbhanj last Nov, while Centre approved the Bangriposhi-Gorumohisani railway line in 2021.

Majhi has also criticised the BJD govt for allegedly neglecting Mayurbhanj’s development, citing the delayed progress on the Amarda Road airstrip project in Rasgovindpur, which was used by the Royal Indian Airforce during World War II, despite Centre providing Rs 145 crore and necessary clearances.
On the other side, BJD candidate Marndi, a five-time MLA and former JMM MP from Mayurbhanj, has been highlighting state govt’s initiatives for the region. These include the development of the birthplace of Pandit Raghunath Murmu, a noted Santali writer who developed Ol Chiki script for the language, the establishment of a medical college named after him, and the construction of the Baripada Ring Road at a cost Rs 150 crore.
Marndi, who has won elections on JMM, BJD, and independent tickets in the past, believes that Naveen’s leadership and commitment to people’s welfare have endeared the BJD to the masses. “The CM has been working to take Odisha to a new height of development. From farmers to artists and youths to women, every section has reasons to cheer,” he says.
BJD has also been emphasising its pro-poor and pro-tribal schemes, such as the withdrawal of 50,000 cases against tribals, the formation of special development councils in tribal-dominated districts, and the establishment of hostels for tribal students.

While the direct contest seems poised between BJP and BJD, JMM patriarch Shibu Soren’s daughter Anjani Soren’s candidature has added an intriguing dimension to the contest. Votes polled by Anjani may be a key factor in Mayurbhanj. Anjani had polled 1.3 lakh votes (11.7%) in the 2019 polls. Apart from Mayurbhanj, Anjani has also been fighting for Saraskana assembly seat, which is under Mayurbhanj Lok Sabha constituency, this time.
Mayurbhanj has a history of opting for different parties and contestants in successive elections, with the BJP winning in 1998, 1999 and 2019, and the BJD in 2009 and 2014. In the five elections from 1980 to 1996, it was with Congress.
On the ground, opinions of locals present a mixed picture. Rabindra Pattanayak, 65, an advocate based in Rairangpur, for instance, believes that President Murmu’s connection to Mayurbhanj is a major draw for voters. However, Saiba Murmu, 25, also from Rairangpur, lauds the BJD govt’s pro-poor and pro-tribal schemes. “BJD’s schemes such as Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana, are better than Ayushman Bharat. Naveen govt is pro-poor and pro-tribal,” Saiba says. With gender ratio tilted towards women, the constituency’s nearly 15.4 lakh voters, dominated by tribal communities like Santals, Kolha, Bathudi, and Bhumija, will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of this highstakes electoral battle.