BJD names candidate for by-poll in CMC Ward No 21

Cuttack: The BJD today announced named Tulasi Behera as its candidate for the by-poll in Ward No-21 of Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) scheduled on June 3.

The name of Behera was announced by Cuttack-Barabati MLA Debasis Samantray in the presence of Cuttack Nagar BJD president Madhusudan Sahu and Cuttack District Youth BJD president Prafulla Singh.

Talking to media persons, Samantray said the Cuttack Nagar BJD had recommended a list of names to the chief minister, who selected Tulasi Behera as the candidate for the by-poll.

Asked whether it would be tough for the BJD to contest the poll from Ward no-21 as the former BJD corporator Anita Behera, who became the CMC Mayor and later resigned from both the posts after her name figured in the list of beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), Samantray said there will be no pressure on the BJD.

“BJD has shown its morality as Anita Behera resigned as Mayor and corporator. From this incident, BJD has made it clear that it would take action against anyone found guilty no matter how influential he or she may be,” he pointed out.

Asked about her agenda for the poll, Tulasi Behera said she would try her best to win the confidence of the people of the Ward.

Referring to the resignation of Mayor Anita Behera from this Ward, she said she will try to convince the people that such an incident will never happen.

Notably, the Congress yesterday had announced Gouri Das, a practicing lawyer of the Odisha High Court, as its candidate, while the BJP had named Padmini Behera, who had lost the CMC polls earlier, as its candidate for the by-poll.

As per the schedule, filing of nominations would begin from May 16 and continue till May 18. Verification of nominations will be on May 20 and withdrawal of nominations on May 23.