Orissa HC moved to scrap notification for CMC mayor election

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Jan 13:

An aspiring corporator candidate from the now lying vacant ward no. 21 of Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) has moved the Orissa High Court seeking annulment of the State Election Commission’s (SEC) notification for election of CMC mayor.

The aspiring corporator candidate, Kanaklata Nayak has named the State Election Commissioner, his secretary, director Municipal Administration and CMC commissioner as parties in the case.

Ward no. 21 is a reserved seat for scheduled caste women candidate and not only that it is the only reserved seat for scheduled caste women candidate in the CMC under the Barabati-Cuttack Assembly constituency. With this seat remaining vacant holding election to elect CMC mayor will violate Odisha Municipal Corporation Act 2003, the petitioner has contended.

In view of the above, the petitioner has prayed for scraping the notification issued on January 8 for election of CMC mayor on January 22.

Notably, the CMC mayor after being embroiled in the ration card controversy resigned from her post on December 29 last year owning moral responsibility after the opposition parties targeted her for her name being included in the beneficiary list for subsidised food grains provided under National Food Security Act (NFSA).

Following acceptance of her resignation at the CMC, the SEC on Monday issued notification to hold election to the post of mayor Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) on January 22.