By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, April 28, 2019: For the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, retaining Kendrapara Lok Sabha seat seems to be the number one priority as Odisha gears up for the final round of polling on April 29 for Lok Sabha.

Baijayant Panda, who had won twice on the BJD ticket in 2009 and 2014 is now fighting hard to retain the seat as the BJP candidate. Panda quit the party last year following a bitter fall-out with the chief minister. After months of feverish speculation about his political future, he joined the BJP last month amidst much fanfare.

The high voltage campaign in Kendrapara reinforces a grudge battle between Naveen Patnaik and his friend-turned-foe, ‘Jay’ Panda, BJP national vice-president and spokesperson in his latest avatar. The BJD has fielded Odia matinee idol and Rajya Sabha member, Anubhav Mohanty to take on Panda.

“Prestige battles” also will be witnessed in a couple of Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies in the state during the final phase of ongoing elections in the state on Monday. Personal prestige of many heavyweights in different political parties will be at stake in this round of polls. Elections are going to be held for six Lok Sabha and 41 Assembly constituencies in the final round.

The battle for Balasore Lok Sabha constituency in north Odisha has turned a prestige issue for state Congress president Niranjan Patnaik as his son Nabajyoti Patnaik is making his debut in electoral politics in the important seat. Taking him on are two stalwarts – sitting BJD MP Rabindra Jena and former two-time BJP MLA Pratap Sarangi.

In neighbouring tribal-dominated Mayurbhanj Lok Sabha constituency, the triangular contest has become a prestige battle for Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) supremo and former Jharkhand chief minister Sibu Soren as his daughter Anjani Soren is trying her luck from the north Odisha constituency for the first time.

The prestige of six-time sitting MP Arjun Sethi is at stake in north Odisha Bhadrak Lok Sabha constituency where his son Abhimanyu Sethi is contesting on a BJP ticket. The father-son duo had quit BJD after the regional outfit denied the senior Sethi a ticket.