Candidates fasten belts for CMC by-poll in Odisha’s Cuttack

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, May 17:

With the filing of nomination papers scheduled to end tomorrow, the candidates have embarked on a high-decibel campaigning for the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) by-poll in ward no- 21 scheduled to be held on June 3.

While Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had announced their candidates on Sunday, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) announced its nominee today.

BJD announced Tulasi Behera to be its candidate. Earlier, Congress had announced Gouri Das and BJP had declared Padmini Behera as its candidate.

The poll fever has gripped the ward as the candidates have begun door-to-door campaigning.

“Campaigning has already begun. I would take steps to solve the problems in my ward. I am trying to win the voters’ confidence,” BJD nominee Tulasi Behera said.

The women are leaving no stones unturned to woo their voters in the ward. The Congress and BJP are hoping to take mileage of the former corporator-cum-Mayor Anita Behera’s resignation owing to the controversy over her name figuring in the NFSA ration card list.

“My agenda would be on ration cards, waste management and widening of the road,” Congress candidate Gouri Das said.

“The preparation is in full swing. I have taken the nomination form today. I will file the papers tomorrow by 3 pm. The prime issue during campaigning would be the corporator’s resignation over the ration card issue,” BJP contestant Padmini Behera said.

“The date for filing of nomination was from May 16 to 18. Some candidates have taken nomination papers. Today was the second day and we expect the candidates to file their affidavits and other papers by tomorrow,” Cuttack ADM, Laxmidhar Mohanty said.

Notably, verification of nominations will be held on May 20 and withdrawal of nominations on May 23. The final list of contestants will be published on the same day.