Cong, BJP name candidates for CMC by-poll

Bhubaneswar: The Congress and BJP today announced the names of their candidates for the by-poll in Ward No-21 of Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) scheduled on June 3.

While the Congress announced Gouri Das, a practicing lawyer of the Odisha High Court, as its candidate, the BJP named Padmini Behera, who had lost the CMC polls earlier, as its candidate.

However, the BJD has not yet announced its candidate for the by-poll.

Announcing the name of Gouri Das, Cuttack Nagar Congress president Mohammad Moqim requested the residents of Ward no-21 to elect her with an assurance that she would do her best to solve the major problems and issues in the ward.

He said the Congress would give a tough fight to the BJD whose corporator for the ward, who had gone on to become CMC mayor, had to resign from her post in ignominy due to massive corruption in the ration card distribution.

Speaking on the occasion, Das said she would try her best to solve the problems of the poor and needy families of the Ward.

Talking to media persons, BJP candidate Padmini Behera said the BJD corporator and Mayor of this Ward, who had to resign over the ration card irregularities, has done nothing in the last two years.

“As I was a BJP candidate for this Ward and had lost the poll marginally, I will focus on the failure of the ex-BJD corporator and concentrate on the improvement in the basic amenities for the people of this Ward. I am confident about winning the election this time", she added.

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.