Factionalism overshadows public issues in Rayagada politics

By Chandrabhanu Singh

Rayagada, Sept. 14: Factional rivalries and personal ambitions are dominating the political discourse in Rayagada district, overshadowing public issues and development priorities.

At the centre of the political tussle are three leaders — former Rajya Sabha member N. Bhaskar Rao, BJD leader Sudhir Das, and local strongman Siba Prasad Gouda.

Rao, who recently quit the BJD after decades with the party, now heads the Biju Swabhiman Mancha. Political observers speculate that his move was driven less by ideology and more by personal compulsions, with some suggesting that he may be keeping the BJP option open to safeguard his political future.

Das, considered a key face of the BJD in Rayagada, has faced criticism within the party for favouring family over grassroots leaders. The controversy around his decision to allot a party ticket to his sister during the Gunupur municipal elections, sidelining senior local leaders, has weakened his standing and fuelled resentment at the local level.

Meanwhile, Gouda has emerged as a beneficiary of these developments. Known for switching alignments between the BJD and Congress to suit his political interests, he is seen to have consolidated influence across panchayat, urban, and Zilla Parishad levels.

While personal rivalries intensify, pressing issues in the tribal-dominated district — including unemployment, school dropouts, poor healthcare, lack of safe drinking water, road connectivity, and unresolved land rights — remain on the back burner.

With political maneuvering taking precedence over governance, the people of Rayagada are watching closely to see whether their concerns will find space in the evolving power dynamics of the district.

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