Lok Sabha elections 2024: Temple city Puri turns into political battleground

Puri Temple

Temple City turns into political battleground

Puri, the famous temple city of Odisha known for the Jagannath Temple, will once again face a tough electoral battle as the Lok Sabha elections approach. With its deep-rooted religious significance and historical political dynamics, Puri remains at the forefront of political discussions, attracting attention from across the country.

Purui KYC

Review of the last election

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Puri witnessed a tussle between Pinaki Mishra of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Sambit Patra of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fierce competition. Pinaki Mishra polled a staggering 72% of the vote and won 5,38,321 votes, narrowly defeating Sambit Patra who polled 5,26,607 votes. who led by only 11,714 votes. This is a major challenge for the BJD’s hold on the constituency.

MP Puri

political status

Puri constituency has been a BJD stronghold for more than two decades and has over 1.55 million voters, mainly Hindus, who constitute 96% of the population. Religious sentiment holds considerable sway in electoral dynamics here. Moreover, the presence of a large Brahmin voter base adds complexity to the political equation. Both the BJD and the BJP have strategically fielded Brahmin candidates in previous elections, highlighting the importance of caste dynamics in the region.

Pure voting

Election time and significance

The Election Commission announced the date of March 10, 2024, setting the stage for another fierce electoral battle in Puri. The outcome of the race in this constituency has implications beyond regional boundaries.

Puri Trivia

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Current members of Congress and historical context

Supreme Court lawyer Pinaki Mishra has been serving as Puri MP since 2009. Only in the 2019 elections did he narrowly defeat Sambit Patra of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It can no longer be said that this constituency is a BJD stronghold because if it had been a stronghold, Sambit Patra would not have been closer to the BJD leader’s winning margin.