Bhubaneswar, May 12 -- Koraput Lok Sabha seat, consisting of seven Assembly segments- Gunupur (ST), Bissam Cuttack (ST), Rayagada (ST), Laxmipur (ST), Jeypore, Koraput (SC), and Pottangi (ST), is likely to see a triangular contest in the upcoming election.

Koraput LS seat has been a stronghold of the Congress, but it was breached only twice during Lok Sabha polls- 2009 and 2014. Significantly, the Lok Sabha seat was represented by veteran leader and former Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang nine times between 1972 and 2004. He was re-elected from the constituency in 1977, 1980, 1984, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1998 and 2004. His wife, Hema Gamang, retained the seat for Congress in 1999 elections while Gamang was the Chief Minister of the state for a ...