The hilly Kandhamal Lok Sabha constituency, which was unheard of during previous elections, has come to the fore this time in the backdrop of the anti-Christian riots that hit the headlines even abroad.

The riots, triggered by the murder of VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, who was active in the district for several decades, on August 23 last year, led to at least 43 killings besides attack on churches and arson at villages.

This also set off political turbulence in the state with the ruling BJD snapping its electoral alliance with the BJP dubbing it as communal.

With Kandhamal virtually divided on religious lines, Christian leaders are apprehensive that elections can trigger fresh violence in the area.

"I do not think the election will have any meaning when thousands of people are still in relief camps and many are migrating to other places," Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar diocese Raphael Cheenath said.

Cheenath has already urged the Election Commission and authorities not to hold the polls in the district at present. Krishna Kumar, Kandhamal district magistrate, who is also the returning officer, however, claimed that all arrangements have been made for holding a free and fair election in the district.

"We have made arrangements to help people in relief camps to vote without any fear," Kumar said.

Video recording of activities of certain candidates is also being done by neutral observers, Kumar said. He also pointed out that election to two urban civic bodies were held peacefully.

Nearly 4,000 security personnel, including 2,000 central para-military force, have been deployed in sensitive locations of the district, he said.

Though seven months have passed since violence erupted in this heavily forested district, the scars of the carnage are still evident.

There are nearly 3,000 people, belonging to the minority community, still living in seven relief camps and an equal number migrating to other places.

"I have voted in all elections over the last 40 years. But this time round, things are completely different as parties have put peace in their marketing basket instead of promising cheap rice or job cards," Prahallad Kanhar, a primary school teacher in Phulbani town, said.

While the administration is confident of holding free and fair elections, fear looms large in several relief camps. People panic at the suggestion of going out to cast votes.

"We are unable to return to our village because of the fear of attack from the rival community," a woman living at a relief camp at K Nuagaon, said.

"The officers have assured us full police protection while going to the polling booths. But, we fear escalation of tension if a candidate having sangh parivar links is defeated," said Malasini Nayak living in the Mandakia relief camp in Raikia block.

Similar feelings were echoed by Mohini Nayak, who returned home a fortnight ago after five months.

"I took shelter at the Vijay High School relief camp with my sons, daughter and husband. Later, I left for Raipur after the the camp was closed down. They have already destroyed my house. I feel they can again create trouble if I vote," Mohini said confiding that many Christians would not.

'Conversion an issue'

Rakesh Digal, a paster at Raikia, said, "We are worried over safety of our people. God knows what will happen on election day and afterwards".

Sources said many religious leaders have fled Kandhamal after violence broke as priests and nuns were mostly targeted.

BJP has fielded its Hindu mascot, Ashok Sahu, a former IPS officer, who heads the Hindu Jagaran Sammukhya. According to Sahu, conversion is one of the main issues.

"You may or may not admit it, but religion is certainly an issue this time. I have been telling people to guard against conversions and vote for me. We want the arrest of Swami Laxamananda Saraswati's killer," Sahu told PTI.

Though he has never contested any election earlier, he is confident of winning.

"I will win the election with the blessings of the Swamiji and the large number of tribals who loved him," he said blaming both the Congress and BJD of dividing the people on communal lines.

Meanwhile, Congress and BJD candidates are harping on peace in the region.

"Had it been a Congress government in Bhubaneswar, the riots would not have taken place in Kandhamal," Congress candidate Sujit Padhi, a former MLA, said.

Clearly on the backfoot, BJD candidate Rudramadhab Ray in his campaigns says that everyone knows, who were responsible for the riots.

"That's why the BJD broke with the BJP. The people will certainly vote for the BJD as the saffron party has been exposed and the Congress is not trusted," Ray claimed. Besides nominees of the BJD, Congress and BJP, there are at least six other candidates in the fray, including four independents.

A lot of heat has also been generated over BJP fielding Manoj Pradhan, who has been arrested and is in jail following the riots, as its candidate from G Udayagiri assembly seat. According to the police, 12 cases are pending against Pradhan in connection with the riots.

"What is wrong in fielding Pradhan as a candidate? He is not a convict," countered BJP state chief Suresh Pujari.

As the state is also holding simultaneous assembly elections, three other constituencies in the district are going to polls on April 16.