Feudalism appears to be losing its grip in the Khallikote assembly constituency in Orissa’s Ganjam district as the constituency has been reserved for the Scheduled Caste for this year’s Assembly elections following the delimitation process.
The Khallikote constituency is traditionally considered to be a stronghold of the royal scions, who have triumphed in 10 out of the 14 Assembly polls held so far including a by-election.
Even though the zamidari estates had been abolished since long, the people’s loyalty was still to the royal family, especially in Khallikote.
The people’s allegiance to the royal family was evident as the former rulers of Khallikote were elected 10 out of 14 times in the Assembly polls from the Khallikote constituency. On the remaining four occasions, other candidates had tasted victory as the royal members refrained from contesting the Assembly polls.
Ram Chandra Mardaraj, the former ruler of Khallikote was elected to the Orissa state assembly for the first time in 1952 when he had contested as an independent candidate.
In the second Assembly election, socialist leader Narayan Sahu triumphed from the Khallikote assembly constituency when Mardaraj stayed away from the elections. The Khallikote constituency was again reclaimed by Mardaraj in the third Assembly polls in 1961.
Similarly the Congress nominee Trinath Samantara was elected twice from the Khallikote seat in 1971 and 1980, when V Sugnana Kumari Deo, the daughter-in-law was not in the election fray. Since 1985, Deo has been winning from the Khallikote constituency but she cannot contest the Assembly polls this time as the seat has now been reserved for the Scheduled caste following the delimitation process.
"Since the Khallikote constituency is reserved fro the scheduled caste, I can not contest from here", Deo said. Even though Deo is not in the fray this time, but her recommended candidate will be the next MLA, informed the close associates of Deo. According to political observers, Khallikote was a stronghold of the royal family as Deo had undertaken several developmental works for the constituency.
The Congress camp expected victory from the Khallikote constituency in this year’s polls as no royal member could cntest this time. "Our chances of winning from the Assembly constituency are very bright in the ensuing Assembly elections as no member of the royal family would be in the fray this time", said a Congress functionary.
