Ex-Odisha DGP Marik to contest from Godda on JMM ticket

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Apr 22:

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) today announced in Ranchi to field former Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) Sanjeev Marik as the party’s candidate from Godda assembly constituency in the May 16 bypolls.

The decision to field Marik as the candidate from Godda was announced by JMM leader and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in Ranchi.

Soren announced that his party has decided to field candidates in both Panki and Godda assembly seats for the May 16 bypolls while speaking to reporters in Ranji.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will field its nominees on both seats.

While the Panki seat had fallen vacant after Congress legislator Videsh Singh died of a heart attack, Godda seat had fallen vacant after BJP’s Raghunandan Mandal also died of a heart attack.

The RJD too has announced its intention of contesting from Godda, which was represented by the BJP’s Raghunandan Mandal who also died of a heart attack.

Notably, Marik had informed to the media on April 18 that he has joined the JMM and was likely to be a candidate from Godda, which is his ancestral place.

The top cop attained superannuation in December last as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC).

His father was into politics and was elected to assembly in 1957 from Godda constituency.

The former state police chief’s professional life was embroiled in several controversies. Even after his retirement also, the controversy did not spare him. Former IGP Anadi Charan Sahu had levelled allegations against Marik for his links with notorious gangster siblings Sushant and Sushil Dhalasamanta. Following this, Marik had filed defamation cases against Sahu.