Odisha MLA Kishore Tarai in soup over wife’s name

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jan 29:

A day after Odisha’s Biju Janata Dal Kendrapara MLA Kishore Chandra Tarai landed in trouble after it was revealed that his father’s name has been different in two different poll affidavits, documents today emerged showing the same to have been done with his wife’s name as well.

According to an affidavit submitted by Kishore Tarai to the State Election Commission (SEC) during 2014 Assembly polls, his wife’s name has been mentioned as Kabita Tarai. A PAN card number was also presented in the affidavit under this name and the income tax returns have also been furnished.

However, a land deal made back in 2006 mentioned her name as Babita Behera.

Curiously, she is contesting panchayat polls from Penthapala gram Panchayat where her caste certificate submitted to the election officer during nomination mentions her name as Babita Tarai. If that was not enough, she has enrolled herself at more than one place in the constituency as a voter using name – Babita Tarai adding to the confusion.

Questioned on the issue, MLA Tarai feigned ignorance and said, “I am not sure about what has been mentioned in the affidavit. My lawyer might have made a typographical error, if it is Kabita instead of Babita Tarai.”

Opposition parties, meanwhile, stepped up their attack against the MLA following the incident.

Reacting to the development, Congress leader Ganeswar Behera said that using false names and submitting false affidavits are punishable offences.

“He is changing stories every single day. At one point he changed his father’s name and then his wife’s. He should file yet another affidavit announcing that same person bears two names- Babita and Kabita,” said BJP Spokesperson Sajjan Sharma.

Kendrapara Collector Muralidhar Mallik meanwhile said that an investigation will be carried out after receiving a written complaint.

It may be mentioned here that Babita and Kishore were recently in news after Congress leaders accused the latter of influencing the polls in the former’s favour and fraudulently withdrawing nominations of rival candidates to ensure an uncontested victory for her.

The BDO was shunted out following the incident and Kishore announced that Babita would resign after poll results are published seeking a fresh mandate.