The directive came in the backdrop of reports of alleged auction of the Sarpanch post for Rs 44,000 at Bileisarda village under Puintala block of Bolangir district.
Aditional District Magistrate (ADM) Mahendra Mohapatra and Puintala Block Development Officer (BDO) conducted inquiry into the violation of Model Code of Conduct and submitted report to district Collector Chanchal Rana.
"In inviting a reference to your letter on the subject cited above, I am directed to say that the Commission after careful consideration directs that it should be ensured that no willing person is obstructed/dissuaded from filing nomination for the post of Sarpanch of Bileisarada G.P," RN Sahu, secretary to the SEC wrote to the Bolangir Collector.
Sources said a Gram Sabha was organised by residents of three villages- Bandanakata, Kasurpali and Bileisarda- at Bileisarda Jagannath temple on January 14 where Sushant Kumar Chhatria reportedly won the bid for the Sarpanch post by pledging to donate Rs 44,000 for the development of the temple.
Speaking about the inquiry report, the district Collector said, “It has been reported in the inquiry that a Gram Sabha was organised for the alleged auction. However, there are different opinions regarding the money transaction.”
“Free and fair election will be conducted at Bileisarda Gram Panchayat and any eligible candidate could file nominations for the forthcoming polls,” the Collector added.
Candidates aspiring for the posts of Sarpanchs, Samiti members and Zilla Parishad members were seen preparing necessary documents for filing nomination papers. With several aspirants in the race, political parties were also seen holding meetings to finalise candidates at the last moment.
"I am going to file nomination from Ward No 10 of Jamudiha Panchayat. I offered prayer at Shiva temple in our village before coming to submit my papers. I am hopeful of a better result and feel that BJD will win the seat," said a sarpanch aspirant from Balasore district.
"As per the directive, we can issue nomination forms to candidates from 11 am. So far no candidate has turned up to take the papers," said Sarat Chandra Rout, returning officer of Jamudiha panchayat.
As per the schedule released earlier, candidates can file their nominations for Sarpanchs, Samiti members and Zilla Parishad member posts from January 17 to January 21 while the scrutiny of the nomination papers will be done on January 22.
The candidates can withdraw their nomination papers till January 25 while the final list of candidates will be published on the same day.
On the other hand, the campaigning for the upcoming polls is going on in full swing. Candidates were seen visiting door-to-door by following the Covid safety guidelines and appealing voters to vote in their favour. Besides, campaigns through digital media and social media also going on to reach out to the voters.
The Panchayat polls will be held in five phases on February 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24. The counting of votes and declaration of results will be done at all the block levels on February 26, 27, and 28.
Around 2.79 crore voters across the State will exercise their franchise to elect 91,913 Ward members, 6,794 Sarpanchs, 6,793 Panchayat Samiti members, and 853 Zilla Parishad members.
Detailing out on the announcement, SEC secretary RN Sahu told newsmen, “Fresh nomination can be filed on January 27, 28, 29 and 30. Scrutiny of nomination will be carried out on January 31 and a list of eligible candidates will be declared on February 2.”
Candidates, who wish to opt out of the panchayat poll battle, can withdraw nomination by 3 pm on February 4.
The final list of the candidates for the panchayat poll will be published after 3 pm on February 4, said Sahu.
As per reports, the candidates came to their respective institutions in a procession with their supporters and filed their nominations.
Elaborate security arrangements were made in all colleges and universities to ward off any untoward incident.
However, tension ran high in Capital Law College in Bhubaneswar during filing of nominations due to protest by one group of students against lifting of sine die last night while the other group of students staged road blockade on NH-16 demanding election. A scuffle ensued between the students and the police as the latter tried to evict them from the NH, reports said.
Apprehending trouble, additional police force has been deployed in the college premises.
On the other hand, students of BJB Junior College staged a road blockade on Bhubaneswar-Puri National Highway in protest against the decision of the college authorities to cancel the elections.
In Cuttack, the candidates of Ravenshaw University, Sailabala Women’s College and Christ College filed their nominations amid tight security.
As per the schedule, the last date for withdrawal of nominations and final list of candidates is scheduled on October 1. This will be followed by ‘Why I Stand For’ meeting on October 4.
Polling would begin from 8 AM to 2 PM on October 5 while the results will be announced in the afternoon on the same day.
The oath taking ceremony will be held on October 6.
"Nomination filing has started on Wednesday. The process will continue till January 17," said Rabindra Nath Sahu, secretary, State Election Commission.
He said scrutiny of the papers will be carried out on January 18 and the candidates can withdraw their nominations till January 21.
The final list of candidates will be published on the same day.
Meanwhile, political parties are on the last leg of finalising the candidates for 852 Zila Parishad zones, elections to which will be fought on party symbols. Other posts like sarpanch and samiti members would not be contested on party symbols.
Also Read: Preparation for panchayat polls: BJD names 40 star campaigners
While the Congress and BJP have almost finalised their candidates, the ruling BJD was grappling with internal feuds with several leaders lobbying hard to get tickets.
Pradesh Congress Committee President Prasad Harichandan said they have almost finalised their candidates and were in the process of distributing tickets to them.
State BJP president Basant Panda said they have finalised candidates in 90 per cent Zila Parishad zones and the remaining candidates would be finalised within a day or two.
BJD vice-president Suryanarayan Patro said BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is scrutinising the candidate lists and tickets would be distributed soon.
"I will work towards the development of Kendrapara and Odisha. I urge everyone to work towards making Narendra Modi prime minister once again," added Panda.
Earlier in the day, Panda sought blessings at Baladevjew Temple in Kendrapara ahead of filing his nomination.
Apart from Panda, several other heavyweights filed nominations for the upcoming polls today. BJP's Balikuda-Erasama Assembly candidate Damodar Rout took out a procession and filed his nomination papers at Jagatsinghpur sub-collector's office. Similarly, Congress Lok Sabha candidate from Kendrapara constituency Dharanidhara Nayak submitted his nomination.
“People will decide who is the real hero in the upcoming elections. Undoubtedly son of this soil is the real hero,” said Dharanidhara Nayak, Congress candidate, Kendrapara LS.
Congress candidate from Jagatsinghpur assembly seat Chiranjib Biswal and Lok Sabha candidate Pratima Mallick also filed their nominations.
BJD candidate from Aul assembly seat Pratap Deb, Congress candidate from Rajnagar assembly constituency Anshuman Mohanty, BJP candidate from Patkura Assembly seat Bijoy Mohapatra, BJP candidate from Mahakalapada seat Bijaya Pradhan and Sunakara Behera from Kendrapara and BJD candidate from Barchanaseat Amar Prasad Satpathy filed their papers.
“Earlier the State was misusing its government functionaries. However, this election 2019 will be different,” said Bijoy Mohapatra.
“I will expedite the development of Barchana. Definitely the promises will be kept, if I am voted to power," said Amar Prasad Satpathy.
OPCC chief Niranjan Patnaik, who is contesting from two seats this election, today filed his nomination from Bhandaripokhari Assembly constituency. Earlier, he had filed nominations from Ghasipura Assembly seat after he was challenged by BJD leader Badri Narayan Patra to contest from the constituency. "Looking at the support of people here, I am more encouraged to work for the people," Patnaik added.
BJP candidate from Basta Assembly seat Raghunath Mohanty, who filed nomination today, said, “People of the State want a change and this is the reason why they have gathered here in so large numbers.”
BJP candidate from Balasore Lok Sabha seat, Pratap Sarangi also filed his nomination. He said, "The corrupt BJD government will taste defeat this time as people want overall development while unemployed youths want employment opportunities in Odisha."
Banerjee took part in a 2-km-long roadshow at Haldia and finally filed her nomination at the Haldia sub-divisional office. She was accompanied by party state president Subrata Bakshi.
The Trinamool supremo had been contesting polls from her home seat Bhawanipore constituency so far.
Nandigram is a stronghold of newly-inducted BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari who had been elected from the high-profile seat in 2016 and became a minister in Mamata Banerjee-led state cabinet.
Adhikari had joined the saffron brigade in December last year. The rebel Trinamool leader had claimed earlier that he would defeat Banerjee by more than 50,000 votes in Nandigram.
BJD's Rudra Pratap Maharathy and Congress candidate Ajit Mangaraj left Pipili for Puri in separate road shows and filed their papers with the Sub-Collector.
Son of late MLA Pradeep Maharathy, Rudra Pratap expressed his hope to win the election with a good margin. "With the blessings of my father, CM Naveen Patnaik and the love of Delang-Pipili constituents, I am sure that we will come out of this election with flying colours," Rudra Pratap said while speaking to newsmen.
"My primary aim would be to complete the unfinished projects of my father, I will then visit all the Panchayats and wards in my constituencies and solve their problems, if any," he added.
Similarly, Congress' Ajit Mangaraj said, "The people here do not believe in money power nor they can be intimidated with muscle power. They have already made up their mind to elect me."
Senior Congress leader from the nearby Satyabadi Assembly constituency and former OPCC chief Prasad Harichandan, said, "An era in Pipili's political timeline is over. Voters are keeping away from both BJD and BJP for their anti poor and anti farmer policies of the State and Central government. I strongly believe that our candidate, Ajit Mangaraj will secure a landslide victory in the by-election."
It is worth mentioning here that, Ashrit Pattanayak, the candidate of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already filed his nomination on March 26.
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)