A former Congress MLA from Odisha’s Aul constituency (2014-2019), sold a portion of his ancestral land to finance his daughter’s campaign.
· Facing a financial crunch aggravated by the freeze on party accounts by the Income Tax department, Sharma made this tough decision.
· Expressing dismay over the lack of financial support from the Congress party, Sharma highlighted the constraints imposed by the frozen party accounts.
· Despite formidable opponents like Pratap Keshari Deb of BJD and Krushna Chandra Panda of BJP, Sharma remains optimistic about his daughter’s prospects in the election.
· The simultaneous assembly and Lok Sabha polls in Odisha, scheduled to commence on May 13, underscore the urgency of the situation.
Debendra Sharma, a former Congress MLA from Odisha’s Aul constituency (2014-2019), has taken a significant step to bolster his daughter’s candidacy in the upcoming Assembly elections. Facing a financial crunch aggravated by the freeze on party accounts by the Income Tax department, Sharma made the tough decision to sell a portion of his ancestral land to finance his daughter’s campaign.
Sharma’s daughter, Dr. Debasmita Sharma, is contesting the elections from the constituency where both her father and grandfather previously served as MLAs. Leaving her job as a government doctor to follow in her family’s political footsteps, Debasmita’s campaign has been hampered by the substantial expenses incurred by rival candidates.
Expressing dismay over the lack of financial support from the Congress party, Sharma highlighted the constraints imposed by the frozen party accounts. “Our party is struggling financially, and the resources provided for my daughter’s campaign are inadequate,” he lamented. Faced with this shortfall, he made the difficult decision to sell a portion of their ancestral land to bridge the financial gap.
The decision to sell the five decimal homestead land reflects Sharma’s commitment to ensuring his daughter’s candidacy is adequately supported, despite facing financial challenges. “Consequently, faced with compelling circumstances, I made the difficult decision to sell a piece of our ancestral land in the village to generate additional resources for her campaign,” he said.
Despite formidable opponents like Pratap Keshari Deb of BJD and Krushna Chandra Panda of BJP, Sharma remains optimistic about his daughter’s prospects in the election. Debasmita has been receiving positive responses from voters during her campaign, reflecting the trust and confidence they have in her.
The simultaneous assembly and Lok Sabha polls in Odisha, scheduled to commence on May 13, underscore the urgency of the situation. With the results slated to be announced on June 2, the Sharma family’s determination to navigate financial challenges highlights the grit and resolve required in contemporary political landscapes.
While Debasmita was unavailable for comment due to her campaign commitments, her father’s actions exemplify the sacrifices made by families entrenched in political aspirations, where ancestral legacies intertwine with contemporary electoral challenges. This narrative underscores the broader issue of financial strains faced by grassroots political candidates, especially in the absence of adequate party support.
As Dr. Debasmita Sharma continues her election campaign, her father’s sacrifice serves as a poignant reminder of the lengths families go to support their loved ones in pursuit of public service and political representation. In the face of adversity, their story reflects the resilience and determination necessary to navigate the complexities of contemporary politics.
(With inputs from agencies)
