Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda is a 'social worker' for wife

Bhubaneswar: Wanted Maoist Sabyasachi Panda's wife Subhashree who filed nomination for Ranpur Assembly constituency in Nayagarh district, has claimed that her husband was a "social worker".

Subahshree, who was freed from jail in April, 2012 after a Gunupur court acquitted her in a Maoist incident related case, has entered the fray on a ticket of Aama Odisha Party (AOP), led by Soumyaranjan Patnaik.

The Red rebel's wife in her affidavit claimed that she had Rs 20,000 cash in hand while her husband had none.

Sabyasachi, who carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head and is alleged to have been involved in murder of Hindu seer Lakshmanananda Saraswati that led to the Kandhamal riots in 2008 and abduction of an Italian tourist, has a policy with Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) of Rs 12,913 as the only movable property, Subhshree's affidavit claimed.

The wanted Maoist, who is son of veteran communist leader Ramesh Panda, has some inherited agricultural land at his native Mayurjhola village in Nayagarh district. Ramesh Panda had represented Ranpur thrice on a CPM ticket and had subsequently joined BJD before his death.

Subhashree, who identified herself as a housewife owning property worth Rs 32,973, is a second year law student.

Subhashree will face BJD's Rabi Narayana Mahapatra, also a Rajya Sabha MP and BJP's Surama Padhi, a former minister.

Though there are veterans in opposition, Subhshree feels confident of winning the Ranpur seat. "If elected I will strive to renovate the Bhetabara dam, which will irrigate land in 35 gram panchayats," she said.