New chief of Sambalpur municipality elected

The by-election for the post was held on Tuesday following the defeat of former chairperson Reena Trivedi in a no trust motion last month.

"Twenty councillors were present today. Only Kalpana Sahu filed nomination for the post of chairperson and she was elected unopposed," said additional district magistrate of Sambalpur, Madhab Chandra Bariha.

Sahu, councillor of ward mo-15 of the municipality, had won the councillor election on a BJP ticket. However, she along with other six councillors had resigned from the party later.
"Sanitation of the city will be my priority now," she said.

Though there are 12 councillors of Congress, the party chose not to contest the election. Congress councillor of Sambalpur municipality, Ashok Sony said, "For the interest of Sambalpur, we supported Kalpana Sahu."