Court declares election of Odisha’s Rayagada ZP chairman null and void again

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Dec 24, 2019 at 10:34 PM Updated On : Dec 25, 2019 at 11:13 AM

Rayagada: The District and Sessions Judge Court today again ordered that the election of Purusottam Gamang as Zilla Parishad Chairman is null and void.

During a hearing in September, the Orissa High Court had directed Purusottam to present his side in the lower court. Acting as per the HC order, Rayagada District and Sessions Judge Soma Sekhar Jena heard the case and nullified the election. Also, the court asked the District Election Officer to hold elections at the earliest and elect a new ZP chairman.

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Earlier, the District and Sessions judge court had rejected the election of Purusottam as ZP Chairman in December 2018. On basis of a petition alleging that BJP ZP member Ramachandra Behera showed his vote to Congress Election Agent Durga Prasad Panda, the Sessions court had pronounced the order. Following this, Purusottam moved the High Court challenging the lower court order.

In September 19, 2019, the court gave an order in favour of Purusottam. But BJD ZP member Gangadhar Puala prayed before the court to reconsider the case in the lower court. The Session Court heard both the parties and declared the election of Purusottam as null and void.

The ZP chairman election was held on December 3, 2017.