Nabarangpur Zilla Parishad chairperson's election declared invalid by court

Nabarangpur: In a setback to the ruling-Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the District and Sessions Judge today declared the election of Nabarangpur Zilla Parishad chairman Bhagabati Bhatra as invalid while hearing a petition.

The court further directed the State Election Commission for re-election.

The petitioner, Baby Majhi citing violation of secrecy of ballot rule had moved court against the election of Bhagabati Bhatra as the Zilla Parishad president, said lawyer Debi Prasad Singh.

After hearing the matter, the court today declared the election of Zilla Parishad President as void and the State Election Commission has also been directed to conduct fresh elections to fill up the vacancy.

It is pertinent to mention here that BJD had won the chairman post by winning 11 zones out of 26 in the three-tier panchayat polls held last year.