Parties woo Telugus, Bengalis

KENDRAPADA: Telugu and Bengali-speaking voters, mostly fishermen and their families, hold the key to victory in Paradip Municipality poll scheduled for April 7. Out of 37,263 electorate, Telugu and Bengali voters number around 15,000.
"Politicians promised many things, but failed to deliver. Large number of seaside slum dwellers still do not have drinking water facilities while sanitation is poor and roads are replete with potholes," said Sanatana Mandal, 45, a fruit seller of Sandakuda slum in Paradip.
A 30-year-old Telugu school, established by Telugu-speaking marine fishermen for their children at Sandakuda, lacks basic infrastructure. Fate of around 350 Telugu-speaking students from Class I to VIII of Venkateswar Telugu School hangs in balance.
The school is not getting any assistance from the state government. There are no toilets and midday meal is a distant dream. There is no furniture, including benches, tables and desks. The school doesn't have its own building.
"We urged authorities many times to provide us land and funds for construction of school building, but in vain," said Bikram Reddy, 54, a Telugu-speaking fisherman of Sandakuda. "Our votes will decide the fate of candidates in 10 wards out of 19," added Reddy.
"Many Bengali and Telugu-speaking marine fishermen are unhappy as fisheries department did not give them identity cards recently," said Sarat Mandal, a Bengali-speaking fisherman of Udayabata slum.
The Congress has stepped up the campaign with leaders Bapi Sarkhel and Jagatsinghpur MLA Chiranjib Biswal going all out to dethrone BJD and give a tough challenge to cabinet minister and Paradip MLA Damodar Rout.
Congress is raising alleged corruption by ministers and chairperson of the municipality Manjulata Jena (BJD). "The civic body did not do any development work for Telugu and Bengali-speaking voters," said president of Paradip town Congress Ranjan Das.
"Congress leaders are trying to hoodwink voters by leveling corruption charges against BJD. But the voters will not be swayed by false allegations against Neveen Patnaik and his ministers," said Jena.
In the last urban body poll, BJD candidates won 15 out of 18 wards. Congress emerged victorious in rest seats. After delimitation, the number of wards has increased to 19.