Congress Projects Late MLA Kangali Panda’s Daughter-In-Law As Party’s Mayor Face In Bhubaneswar

Madhusmita Acharya, the daughter-in-law of late Kangali Charan Panda, senior Congress leader and Dharmashala MLA, has been made the Congress’ Mayor candidate for Bhubaneswar for the upcoming ULB polls.

The announcement was made by senior Congress leader and Jatni MLA, Suresh Routray in Bhubaneswar on Friday.

Routray said the decision was made following approval by the All India Congress Committee (AICC).”

“I am grateful before the Congress party for nominating me for the Mayoral position in BMC," said Acharya while speaking to the reporters at the Congress Bhawan in the Capital city.

She urged people to turn up in large numbers to vote during the upcoming election.

Former Odisha MLA Kangali Charan Panda had passed away on February 12 this year following a cardiac arrest at the age of 77. He breathed his last at his residence in Nayapalli.

A key associate of late Chief Minister Janaki Ballabh Patnaik, Panda was elected to the State Legislative Assembly as an independent candidate from Dharmashala Assembly Constituency in Jajpur district in 1980. He won the seat for a second consecutive term on a Congress ticket in 1985.

Now, his daughter-in-law aims to take his legacy forward by running for the position of Mayor in the coming urban body polls scheduled for March 24, 2022.