Sarpanch candidate dies

Sambalpur:A Sarpanch candidate in fray for the three-tier panchayat elections, Mani Pradhan, 35, and his supporter, Sudheer Patel, 40, died in a road accident.

The incident took place last night when Pradhan was returning from campaigning in a bike which hit a tree at village Patrapali under the Kuchinda police limit. He was contesting from Paruabhadi Gram Panchayat in Kuchinda Block, the police said.

In Paruabhadi Gram Panchayat, the election is scheduled on February 21. But following death of the Sarpanch candidate, the election for the post of Sarpanch will be countermanded there. However, the election to the post of, Zilla Parishad Member, Panchayat Samiti Member and ward members would be held as scheduled.

Kuchinda Sub Collector, Chanchal Rana said, the election to the post of Sarpanch will be countermanded at the Gram Panchayat.