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Bhubaneswar: Top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda, who was arrested in 2014 after nearly one and half a decade of hiding from police, is all set to contest the upcoming 2019 general elections.
Subhashree Panda (Mili), wife of Sabyasachi informed that he (Sabyasachi) is mentally prepared to contest 2019 elections. "He will file his nominations as independent candidate for the four crore Odias from any corner of the State," she said.
With Sabyasachi still in jail over alleged Maoist activities including killing of dozens of security personnel and civilians, his alleged involvement in the murder of Lakshmanananda Saraswati that led to the Kandhamal riots in 2008 and abduction of an Italian tourist, the announcement of such decision to contest polls has come as surprise for many.
"Though from the legal perspective there are cases against him (Sabyasachi), he has not been convicted so far. He can easily fight elections as per the guidelines which says that anyone who is not convicted of any crime but arrested can fight elections, Mili said.
"Till now he has been given clean chit in as many as 40 different cases and will continue to get acquitted in coming days," she added.
Mili, who herself was arrested for her alleged links with the out-lawed CPI(Maoist) party in 2010 and 2012 before being acquitted by courts, had unsuccessfully contested assembly elections on a ticket from Ama Odisha Party floated by Soumyaranjan Patnaik.
With Soumya Ranjan Patnaik recently joining BJD and all set to become a Rajya Sabha member, Milli when asked on her future with Ama Odisha Party, she said that she has always been with Patnaik.
"Somya Babu has treated me like a family member and gave me a platform to stand. I owe a lot to him so there is no question of leaving him and the party. Since he has joined the BJD our party has also essentially become a part of the ruling BJD," said Mili.
