The Odisha Jana Morcha (OJM) will not take part in the urban body (ULB) polls on September 19 as it is yet to be registered as a political party.
This was decided at the office-bearers’ meeting of the party presided over by its president Pyarimohan Mohapatra here. The OJM has applied for registration as a political party since April 8, but the process and hearing are yet to be over. The OJM cannot take part in the polls without a symbol.
The party, however, announced that any leader or worker of the OJM can contest the ULB polls as an Independent if he/she wants. But the candidates cannot utilise the name of the OJM in any manner for electioneering or any other purpose, a release issued by the OJM said.
The OJM has called upon its workers and supporters to utilise the poll for the defeat of the ‘anti-youth, anti-farmer and anti-people’ BJD led by Naveen Patnaik.
Meanwhile, AICC general secretary in-charge of Odisha B K Hariprasad reached here on Friday to review the preparedness of the Congress for the ULB polls.
Hariprasad inaugurated the social media department of the party at the Congress Bhavan here. He will visit Kendrapara on Saturday to address a public meeting. Talking to mediapersons Hariprasad said that the OPCC is competent to issue show cause notice to Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, but AICC has power to take action.