BHUBANESWAR: The Congress-I is likely to be involved in a straight fight with its traditional adversary the Janata Dal-Left combine in the Lok Sabha poll in Orissa though four major parties would be in the race.
Despite the Bharatiya Janata Party making a determined bid to make its presence felt in the state and the Janata Dal (S) succeeding to rope in a couple of influential leaders they will not make much of a difference analysts feel.
But the BJP might be a factor in a few seats like Kalahandi Sundergarh and Phulbani (SC). These constituencies might witness triangular contests involving the Congress-I Janata Dal and BJP.
In the 1989 Lok Sabha poll it was virtually a straight fight between the Congresses-I and the Janata Dal-Left combine in all the 21 constituencies. The Janata Dal left alliance won 18 seats.
The Congress-I which had swept the poll is in 1980.and 1984 winning 20 of the 21 seats each time could manage to win only three seats last time
Despite the “Left Parties criticism of the style of functioning of the state chief minister Biju Patnaik the Janata Dal has decided to maintain the alliance and continued the same seat sharing arrangement as in last time.
The Dal would contest 19 seats leaving one seat to the CPI.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 26, 1991
