Report by Kahnu Nanda, Jagatsinghpur : It is indeed news that two Jagatsinghpur based journalists are contesting 2019 assembly elections as an Indian citizen’s party candidate from two different constituencies.
The news assumes prominence as two journalists were from one party and contesting separate constituencies. One Nrusingha Chaaran Barik is contesting for Jagatsinghpur Assembly seat and another Birabara Dalei for Erasama- Balikuda assembly segment both the constituencies will go to polls on April 29.
Many have contested before, journalism was also a political activity of sorts during the times of freedom struggle, and even after India’s independence many journalists have proclaimed that their kind of journalism was political activism, many of them chose to contest polls and were elected, remarked Nrusingha Charan Barik.
Barik a resident of Gadilo village under Tirtol block 30 km away from Jagatsinghpur headquarters, he had started his journalism carrier in the year 1990, having recognition working with Odia daily newspapers as Asadha, Matrubhasa, Pragatibadi, Paryabekhyaka, Sakala , Jana Bani and periodical Satabdi in different years, recently working with Press News Service [PNS] a news gathering agency.
Besides journalism Barik had jumped to elections fray in the year 2004, who contested as a Janata Party candidate for the erstwhile Tirtol general assembly segment, scored above two thousand votes, so also he had contested Zilla Parishad elections in the year 2009 in zone No-2 under Kujanga block as a Samajabadi Party candidate, secured 978 votes termed fifth position, Barik informed.
Moreover he also associated with Utkal Khadi Mandal, Survodya Andolan and social works, for his outstanding social works several organizations have been felicitated, shared Barik who was married and no children after 25 year of marriage. .
During his election campaigning Barik said at a meeting that he failed to spend quality time with family as his sole focus was on journalism and its value in society, now I have been decided to join politics a way serving people directly, Barik’s candidature becomes a topic of debate only because of his stature as a journalist committed to values
Everyone has the right to enter politics and contest elections, my entry into electoral politics is only natural, informed Birabar Dalei another journalist who is contesting for Erasam- Balikuda constituency for 2019 polls. Earlier Dalei had been contested from the erstwhile Balikuda assembly seat in the year 2000 as an Independent candidate, later he also fought 2004 assembly polls as a Samaja Badi Party aspirant scored 830 votes defeated badly.
Although he miscarried from both elections but his dream becoming a legislator still alive as consequence he fielded his nominations for the Erasama- Balikuda assembly constituency, Dalei informed. A 53 year Dalei an intermediate pass out and unmarried had launched his journalism career in the year 1993 worked with various Odia newspaper now reporting for the Odia vernacular Naya Bati and Samparka Barta.
Being a socialist ideologue Dalei is the district president of Ambedkar Lohia Bichar Mancha, milk farmers’ federation Jgatsinghpur, Upakula Banchao Andolana and few organizations. His candidature has been very much supported by Balikuda residents, report said.
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