KORAPUT: THE nomination papers of Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS) leader Nachika Linga and his wife Tikai's were rejected during scrutiny by the election officer on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Nachika and Tikai had filed their nominations for Narayanpatna Zilla Parishad (ZP) and Podapadar Sarpanch seats respectively. Nachika, who is currently lodged in Koraput Circle Jail, filed papers through his lawyer.
Election Officer and Koraput Sub-Collector, Krutibash Rout said Narayanpatna ZP seat is reserved for Other Backward Class (OBC) category but Nachika did not produce OBC certificate. This apart, the affidavit produced by him is found to be faulty and few signatures of the applicants are missing in the nomination papers, he added.
Nomination papers of Tikai were rejected as she does not speak and write Odia language, sources said. Nachika's lawyer Gupteswar Panigrahi said he would appeal before the High Court over the issue.
70 hyper-sensitive booths
As many as 70 booths have been identified as hyper-sensitive for the elections in the district where videography will be done during voting to ensure peaceful polling.
Polling for the 3,482 posts of ward members, samiti members, sarpanchs and ZP members will be held in five phases from February 13. The administration has decided to create 2,973 booths for its 7,68,235 voters. "Polling in 70 booths will be videographed to avoid any allegation of irregularities. List of the identified booths has been finalised and it will be sent to the State Election Commission," said Koraput Collector Jaya Kumar V.
With half of the 240 panchayats of the district being Maoist-hit, the district administration is examining the security aspect of each and every booth to ensure that the poll process is smooth. "At present, the situation is normal and polling work is going on smoothly," the Collector said. Officials said polling will be held at Lamtaput, Jeypore and Dasmantpur blocks on February 13, at Kundura, Semiliguda and Laxmipur blocks on February 15; at Borigumma, Pottangi and Narayanpatna on February 17 and at Boipariguda, Bandhugaon and Koraput blocks on February 19. On February 21, polling will be held at Kotpad and Nandapur blocks.
The filing of nomination papers for the posts of ward members, sarpanchs, samiti members and ZP members ended on Tuesday.