The political equation in Odisha's tribal dominated Sundergarh district is changing fast after Union minister Jual Oram Saturday urged former Rourkela MLA Dilip Ray to re-join BJP ahead of the second phase of polling in the state on April 18.
"The issues raised by Dilip Babu has been solved as the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has assured him that the work of the second bridge across Brahmani river and conversion of the Ispat General Hospital (IGH) into a super speciality hospital are being expedited," Oram said.
With the fulfilment of Ray's demand, there should be no hindrance for the former MLA to re-join the BJP, Oram said.
Ray had quit the BJP last year.
He had also resigned from the membership of the state legislative assembly over the non-fulfilment of promises made to the people of Rourkela.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the steel city in 2015 had promised a second bridge over the river Brahmani and upgradation of IGH into a super speciality hospital.
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Ray quit the party out of frustration as the five year tenure of the Modi government came to an end.
In a communication to Ray, the PMO informed that work has already been initiated by the Union Steel Ministry as per the revised estimate for the hospital project.
Ray was also informed that the fund has been transferred to SAIL through SBI on February 21 while the remaining funds will be provided in time.
The former MLA, Ray has expressed his happiness over the development in a tweet.
He also mentioned that the PMOs assurance is a great relief for the people of Rourkela.
Oram needs Ray's help in the elections as the former Rourkela MLA had ensured his (Oram's) victory from the Sundergarh Lok Sabha seat in 2014.
While Oram defeated his BJD rival and Hockey icon Dilip Tirkey by 18,829 votes last time, the BJP had polled 64,086 votes from Rourkela assembly segment alone.
The BJD candidate on the other hand got 42,227 votes in Rourkela.
Dilip Ray, as a BJP candidate from Rourkela assembly segment had ensured a lead of 21,859 votes for BJP's candidate Jual Oram in 2014.
Meanwhile, Oram has also admitted that absence of Ray from electioneering will affect the BJP's electoral prospect in Sundergarh.
However, Ray, yet to open his cards and said he would support the candidate who promises to work for the development of Rourkela.
Oram, a four-time MP and two time Union minister, is facing BJD's Sunita Biswal and Congress candidate George Tirkey in the Lok Sabha elections.
While Sunita is the daughter of veteran Congress leader and former Chief Minister Hemanda Biswal, George Tirkey is a former MLA and prominent trade union leader in the mining rich Sundergarh district.
There are seven assembly segments - Sundergarh, Talsara, Rajgangpur, Biramitrapur, Rourkela, Raghunathpalli and Bonai - under Sundergarh Lok Sabha seat.
In 2014 elections, the people of Sundergarh elected MLAs from different parties. While Congress candidates were elected from Sunbdergarh and Talsara assembly segments, the BJD got Rajgangpur and Raghunathpalli seats.
Both the CPM (Bonai) and the BJP (Rourkela) won one seat each while George Tirkey (now a Congress candidate for Sunbergarh Lok Sabha) is a sitting MLA of Odisha Samata Kranti Dal from Biramitrapur segment.
Meanwhile, Tirkey has joined the Congress.
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