As on the previous three occasions, the Kandhamal Lok Sabha seat in Odisha will have a new MP in 2019. The Kandhamal LS constituency was carved out in 2008 following the delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies. The BJD has nominated educationist and Rajya Sabha MP Achyuta Samanta as its candidate. While these two are from outside Kandhamal district, the Congress has picked Manoj Acharya, the president of its Baliguda town unit, as candidate. Although Kandhamal may bring alive memories of past incidents of communal violence elsewhere, it is not a major poll issue in the four Assembly segments.

Source: The Hindu April 02, 2019 19:52 UTC