Saswat Singhdeo

Sambalpur: Candidature of BJD's Lok Sabha candidate from Sambalpur, Nalinikanta Pradhan has been declared valid, informed Returning Officer and Sambalpur Collector today.

However, the BJP has expressed resentment over the decision and has threatened to move the High Court. BJP candidate Nitesh Ganga Deb has alleged that the hearing on the matter was done illegally.

"The returning officer had accepted that there was a blank column in the affidavit filed by Nalini Pradhan, but still nomination was allowed; this shows the corrupt nature of the State government," Ganga Deb said.

Earlier, Pradhan had filed his nomination but after Nitesh levelled 'Office of profit' allegations, the former's nomination was postponed and an investigation was ordered.

The hearing of the case was done by the district collector today in presence of both the sides.

"I submitted all the documents required for the investigation of the validity of my candidature. Subsequently, I was informed that my candidature is valid," said Pradhan.

Sambalpur collector and Returning Officer, Subham Saxena said, "We have given a clean chit to Pradhan as all the documents prove that there is no case of office of profit."

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