# Kantabanji Assembly constituency

Kantabanji is a Vidhan Sabha constituency of Balangir district, Odisha.
This constituency includes Kantabanji, Turekela block, Bangomunda block and Muribahal block.
In 2019, the Kantabanji Legislative Assembly Indian National Congress won by 128 votes. Since 2019 the, MLA from the Kantabanji Assembly Constituency is Santosh Singh Saluja INC, who won the seat in Odisha state assembly elections 2019, Previous MLAs from this seat were Haji Mohammad Ayyub Khanof the Biju Janata Dal, who won the seat in 2009 Odisha state assembly elections. Previous MLAs from this seat were independent candidate Haji Mohammad Ayub Khan in 2004, Prasanna Pal of JD in 1990, independent candidate Chaitanya Pradhan in 1985, Prasanna Kumar Pal representing INC (I) in 1980 and representing INC in 1977.
Kantabanji is part of Bolangir (Lok Sabha constituency).

## Elected Members

Vote share of winning candidates :
| 2024 | 2024 | 44.57% | 44.57% |
| 2019 | 2019 | 33.60% | 33.60% |
| 2014 | 2014 | 31.65% | 31.65% |
| 2009 | 2009 | 43.24% | 43.24% |
| 2004 | 2004 | 40.68% | 40.68% |
| 2000 | 2000 | 29.24% | 29.24% |
| 1995 | 1995 | 44.80% | 44.80% |
| 1990 | 1990 | 46.25% | 46.25% |
| 1985 | 1985 | 46.68% | 46.68% |
| 1980 | 1980 | 54.84% | 54.84% |
| 1977 | 1977 | 42.33% | 42.33% |
Since its formation in 1961, 15 elections were held till date.
List of members elected from Kantabanji constituency are:
| Year | Member | Party |
| 2024 | Laxman Bag | BJP |
| 2019 | Santosh Singh Saluja | INC |
| 2014 | Haji Md. Ayub Khan | BJD |
| 2009 | Santosh Singh Saluja | INC |
| 2004 | Haji Md. Ayub Khan | Independent |
| 2000 | Santosh Singh Saluja | INC |
| 1995 | Santosh Singh Saluja | INC |
| 1990 | Prasanna Pal | JD |
| 1985 | Chaitanya Pradhan | Independent |
| 1980 | Prasanna Pal | INC |
| 1977 | Prasanna Pal | INC |
| 1974 | Ram Prasad Mishra | SWA |
| 1971 | Achyutananda Mahananda | SWA |
| 1967 | Lokanath Rai | SWA |
| 1961 | Rajendra Narayan Singh Deo | SWA |

## Election results
### 2024

Voting were held on 20th May 2024 in 2nd phase of Odisha Assembly Election & 5th phase of Indian General Election. Counting of votes was on 4th June 2024.
2024 Odisha Vidhan Sabha Election,Kantabanji :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | BJP | Laxman Bag | 90,876 | 44.57 | 11.04 |
| | BJD | Naveen Patnaik | 74,532 | 36.56 | 8.04 |
| | INC | Santosh Singh Saluja | 26,839 | 13.16 | 20.44 |
| | NOTA | None of the above | 1,649 | 0.81 | 0.47 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,344 | 8.01 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,03,874 | | |
| | BJP gain from INC | BJP gain from INC | Swing | | |

### 2019

In 2019 election, Indian National Congress candidate Santosh Singh Saluja defeated Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Laxman Bag by a margin of 128 votes.
2019 Vidhan Sabha Election, Kantabanji :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | INC | Santosh Singh Saluja | 64,246 | 33.60 | 4.17 |
| | BJP | Laxman Bag | 64,118 | 33.53 | 15.80 |
| | BJD | Ajaya Kumar Das | 54,527 | 28.51 | 3.14 |
| | BSP | Champa Nag | 1,589 | 0.83 | |
| | Independent | Maya Bag | 2,273 | 1.19 | |
| | Independent | Suratha Behera | 2,028 | 1.06 | |
| | NOTA | None of the above | 2,453 | 1.28 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 128 | 0.07 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 191234 | 68.33 | |
| | INC gain from BJD | INC gain from BJD | Swing | | |

### 2014

In 2014 election, Biju Janata Dal candidate Ayub Khan defeated Indian National Congress candidate Santosh Singh Saluja, who was seeking re-election, by a margin of 3,868 votes.
2014 Vidhan Sabha Election, Kantabanji :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | BJD | Ayub Khan | 55,252 | 31.65 | −9.05 |
| | INC | Santosh Singh Saluja | 51,384 | 29.43 | −13.81 |
| | BJP | Lachhaman Bag | 30,961 | 17.73 | 6.58 |
| | AAP | Ajay Kumar Das | 20,333 | 11.65 | |
| | Independent | Bhola Panika | 3,253 | 1.86 | |
| | CPI | Premananda Putel | 2,676 | 1.53 | |
| | BSP | Sushil Kumbhar | 1,784 | 1.02 | −0.26 |
| | Independent | Santosh Deep | 1,269 | 0.73 | |
| | AOP | Satyendra Suna | 1,206 | 0.69 | |
| | BMP | Jagadish Singh Bhoi | 967 | 0.55 | |
| | Independent | Bishnu Prasad Jued | 727 | 0.42 | |
| | ICP | Tankadhara Saa | 698 | 0.4 | |
| | Independent | Alexander Senapati | 694 | 0.4 | |
| | Independent | Srikanta Mahananda | 580 | 0.33 | |
| | Independent | Nishikanta Rana | 536 | 0.31 | |
| | Independent | Nandalal Tandi | 533 | 0.31 | |
| | NOTA | None of the above | 1,729 | 0.99 | − |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,868 | 2.22 | −1.45 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,74,582 | 72.34 | 3.43 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,41,337 | | |
| | BJD gain from INC | BJD gain from INC | Swing | {{{swing}}} | |

### 2009

In 2009 election, Indian National Congress candidate Santosh Singh Saluja defeated Biju Janata Dal candidate Ayub Khan by a margin of 5,304 votes.
2009 Vidhan Sabha Election, Kantabanji :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | INC | Santosh Singh Saluja | 62,495 | 43.24 | 11.19 |
| | BJD | Haji Md. Ayub Khan | 57,191 | 40.70 | − 15.56 |
| | BJP | Ajay Kumar Das | 16,117 | 11.15 | − |
| | Independent | Suratha Behera | 2,075 | 1.44 | − |
| | BSP | Nanda Kumar Mahananda | 1,848 | 1.28 | − |
| | SAMO | Ashok Kumar Singh Deo | 1,719 | 1.19 | − |
| | Kosal Kranti Dal | Jogendra Bachha | 1,087 | 0.75 | − |
| | Independent | Gupteswar Benia | 1,052 | 0.73 | − |
| | Independent | Gopal Bhoi | 962 | 0.67 | − |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,304 | 3.67 | − |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,44,549 | 68.91 | − |
| | INC gain from Independent | INC gain from Independent | Swing | 3.55 | |