KENDRAPARA: Gayatri Sethi, one of aspirants for the Panchayat Samiti member post from Penthapala, on Monday made a U-turn by filing a petition before the Kendrapara Sub-Collector that on January 21, she had filed an application at the Pattamundei BDO office to withdraw her nomination. However, a day later, she falsely stated that the BDO doctored her signature on the withdrawal application and she did so at the behest of Congress leaders.
Kendrapara legislator Kishore Chandra Tarai and his wife Babita grabbed headlines recently when Babita was elected unopposed as Panchayat Samiti member of Penthapala by Pattamundai BDO Prasant Rout earlier this month. Rout had stated that the other two aspirants for the post - Pramila Mallik and Gayatri Sethi - had withdrawn their nominations and in the absence of a rival, he had declared Babita as uncontested winner.
The Congress leaders had subsequently alleged before the State Election Commission (SEC) that the BDO, in nexus with the Kendrapara MLA, had forged the signatures of Pramila and Gayatri on the withdrawal forms.
Acting on their petition, the SEC had transferred the Pattamundai BDO. But, the SEC did not allow the two other candidates to contest the election. However, Congress leaders demanded that the two women candidates be allowed to contest the poll as both are Dalit candidates and have not withdrawn their nominations.
Sub-Collector Kanhu Charan Dhir said he received a petition by Gayatri from her husband, Daitari Sethi stating that she had withdrawn her candidature legally before the BDO. “The Additional District Magistrate of Kendrapara will investigate the matter on Tuesday,” he added.
Daitari said as Babita is not well, he had to submit the petition on her behalf. “I was present with my wife in the block office on the day she filed application to withdraw her nomination,” he said.
Kendrapara MLA Tarai on Monday alleged that Congress leaders are trying to defame him. He refuted the allegations saying that Babita was rightly declared elected unopposed after other candidates withdrew from the race. “It is the Congress leaders, with an ulterior motive, who have raised the issue to tarnish my political image during the panchayat election,” he said, adding that Gayatri’s petition proves this.
On the other hand, Congress leader and former minister Ganeswar Behera said Gayatri was being influenced by the MLA and has given a false statement regarding the withdrawal of her candidature.