Leaders of all political parties and members of Sambalpur District Bar Association have resolved not to allow urban local body (ULB) polls in the district unless the State Government recommends for setting up High Court bench in Western Odisha.
The decision was taken on Monday at a meeting here which was attended by president of district Congress Committee Raj Kishore Das, president of district BJP Nauri Nayak, town president of BJD Basanta Mishra, former BJD Minister Sanatan Bisi, former Congress MP Sriballav Panigrahi besides leaders of CPI, BSP, OJM, Aam Admi Party and Kosal Kranti Dal.
They resolved that the ongoing agitation will continue till August 31 and a final decision on the stir would be taken by Central Action Committee (CAC) of All Western Odisha Bar Association (AWOBA) at a meeting in Jharsuguda on August 29.
CAC member Sureshwar Mishra said extension of the ongoing agitation till August 31 is a joint decision of all the District Bar Associations who have joined the movement.
He further informed that all lawyers will march to Padampur on the day of ULB polls if the BJD candidates who have filed nominations for Padampur NAC do not withdraw their papers.
Mishra further said members of Sambalpur District Bar Association have decided to go ahead with their economic blockade on the last working day of every month. The Adivasi Dalit Sena which had called bandh on August 31 to extend support to the lawyers, has resolved to call off the bandh and join the striking lawyers in the economic blockade.