Odisha’s Dhenkanal civic body chief loses trust vote

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Dhenkanal, Aug 1:

Dhenkanal Municipality chairman Indramani Behera today lost the trust vote as 17 councillors voted in favour of the ‘no trust motion’.

As per reports out of 23 councillors 20 participated in the motion moved by the Congress which had alleged that Behera had not taken councillors into confidence while taking decisions on various projects.

While Congress and BJP had issued whips to their councillors to vote in favour of the motion, the BJD had asked its councillors to abstain from voting on the motion. However, four BJD councillors took part in the voting.

It may be noted here that the Dhenkanal Collector had issued directions for holding a ‘trust motion’ following the rebellion against Behera.

Behera had moved the Orissa High Court challenging the Collector’s order for ‘trust motion’. The High Court had, however, declined to stay the ‘trust motion’.

Keeping in view a possible law and order situation, section 144 was clamped around the municipal office.