Jajpur,12/11(PPT): Political activity is gaining momentum in Sukinda as former minister and three-time MLA Er. Pritiranjan Ghadai, popularly known as Danny, steps up his engagement with people after his defeat in the 2024 Assembly elections. The election marked a major political shift in Odisha, ending the Biju Janata Dal’s 24-year rule, with the BJP winning three Assembly seats in Jajpur district — Badachana, Korei and Sukinda — while an Independent candidate won Dharamshala and later joined the BJP. In Sukinda, BJP candidate Pradeep Bal Samanta defeated Danny, an outcome that had surprised many political observers. Despite the setback, Danny has continued to maintain contact with people across the constituency and other parts of Jajpur district. His visits to flood-affected families, patients in hospitals and bereaved households, along with his participation in community programmes, sports events and festivals, have helped him remain visible in public life. His informal interactions with residents at tea stalls and local food stalls have also become a part of his grassroots outreach. Meanwhile, allegations of intimidation of opposition workers, pressure on people employed in industrial units and internal dissatisfaction within the BJP have surfaced in local political discussions. There are also allegations concerning the influence of certain family members of political leaders in local affairs. These claims remain matters of political contention and require independent verification.
Danny has also sharpened his criticism of the State and Central governments, particularly on issues concerning mineral revenue, mining policy and the livelihood of local communities. Referring to the proposed changes under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) framework, he has claimed that Odisha could lose around Rs 1 lakh crore in pending dues and nearly Rs 12,000 crore annually. He has argued that any reduction in the State’s share of mineral revenue could affect investment in education, healthcare, roads and other development sectors. He has also stressed that people living in mining-affected areas should receive a fair share of the benefits generated from the mineral wealth extracted from their region. On the issue of minor mineral and sand quarry allocations, Danny has questioned the reported move from the e-auction system to a lottery-based mechanism, alleging that it could encourage favouritism and cause an annual revenue loss of around Rs 2,000 crore to the State exchequer. These figures and allegations are his estimates and need to be examined against official government records. He has also raised concerns over the condition of residents in Nagada, alleging that many continue to face difficulties in accessing basic government facilities and that the administration has not done enough to address their problems. His statements have brought these issues back into the political debate, while the BJD sees an opportunity to regain public support by highlighting them.
Apart from targeting the government on policy issues, Danny has been attempting to strengthen the BJD’s organisational base by reaching out to young people, including members of Generation Z. He has emphasised education, employment opportunities, youth participation and the need to protect the future of the next generation. His continued engagement with party workers and supporters, and his efforts to raise local law-and-order concerns before the police and district administration, have helped him retain a presence in the constituency after the electoral defeat. The political contest is likely to intensify ahead of the next panchayat elections, particularly in Sukinda and Danagadi blocks, where both the BJP and the BJD will seek to consolidate their organisational networks. While the BJP has the advantage of being in power at the State level and having its MLA heading the constituency, it faces the challenge of addressing local grievances and strengthening its cadre base. The BJD, on the other hand, is banking on Danny’s public outreach and his criticism of government policies to rebuild its support. However, whether his renewed grassroots engagement translates into electoral gains will depend on public response, organisational strength and the performance of the government on local development issues.