Odisha Municipal Elections

Jena faced stiff opposition from residents of Nuasahi in Phulbani Municipality while campaigning for BJD's Chairman candidate and Councillor aspirant Rajendra Padhi from ward number 8 of the municipal segment.

While the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has fielded Sanghamitra Dalai for the Mayor post, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s pick is Dr Sabita Suar and the grand old party Congress’s choice is Manju Rath.

Bizarre scenes were noticed at the Ganjam Sub-Collector’s office in Berhampur on Monday as senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were seen guarding the office gate to ensure that none of their Corporator candidates withdrew nomination for the upcoming Urban Local Body polls.

According to sources, Angul Municipality will see a father-son contest in the ensuing political battle. Bhimsen Mandothia is contesting from a BJP ticket as a councillor from ward number-5 while his son Ranjit Mandothia will fight against him for the post from BJD camp.

Local residents allege that the region still languishes with problems aplenty like proper drinking water, drainage and sanitation facilities. Most of the educated urban voters have vowed not to be swayed by false promises anymore

At least five family members of a BJP Corporator candidate from ward number 33, Dharitri Jena, had sustained critical injuries after they were allegedly attacked

Commissioner of Police for Cuttack and Bhubaneswar has sent out a strict warning against perpetrators of violence trying to disrupt peace and law and order in the Twin Cities in the run-up to the urban elections in Odisha on March 24.

The party has fielded a first year MBA student of Khallikote Autonomous College as their Mayoral candidate for Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC)

The attack occurred in front of Laxmisagar police station. In a video, the attackers were seen thrashing the victims with wooden planks and iron rods. Sources said that the clash between the two groups ensued following a dispute over tearing of some posters.

Moreover, the saffron party has filed a complaint about such incidents to the Sub-Collector and Superintendent of Police (SP) of Berhampur and demanded the authorities to provide protection to the party candidates. 

These are the three candidates who have thrown their hats into the ring.

As per the schedule announced by the State Election Commission (ECI), the general elections to Urban Local Bodies (106 municipalities/NACs and 3 municipal corporations) will be held on March 24.The voting will be conducted from 8 am to 5 pm.

Among the three major political parties’ candidates, who have filed nomination papers for the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) Mayoral post, Subash has emerged as the richest candidate as per the submitted declaration forms

Anil Kumar Sahu, a resident of Ward number 2 in Polsara NAC of Ganjam district is now in the poll fray against his father Duryodhan Sahu for the post of Councillor

Meanwhile, the BJD has reportedly started making efforts to persuade the rebel candidates to withdraw their nominations.