Odisha MLA Ananta Das’ son loses in Panchayat Polls

Balasore: Even as ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is heading towards clean sweep in three-tier Panchayat Polls in Odisha, it’s not ‘celebration’ time for the senior leader and Bhograi MLA Ananta Das in Balasore district.

The poll results brought a huge setback for the BJD legislator as his son Biswajit Das, who was contesting as the Samiti Member candidate backed by BJD from Sianroi Gram Panchayat in Bhograi, faced defeat in the recently held elections.

Biswajit Das lost to Independent candidate Asish Mohanty, BJD’s former Zilla Parishad member, in the polls. Mohanty defeated Das with a margin of 88 votes.

Besides, BJD-backed Samiti Member candidate Achyutananda Das, who is Ananta Das’ relative, also lost the polls in Maheswar panchayat in Bhograi.

The four-time MLA Ananta Das had earlier held various key positions in the Government. However, the defeats of his son and relative in his own Assembly Constituency indicate ‘all’s not well’ within the party.