BHAWANIPATNA: The nomination process for the ensuing urban local body (ULB) election in western Odisha turned violent on Monday when Congress and BJP activists, along with some lawyers, seeking deferment of the polls, tried to prevent BJD candidates from to file their papers at the municipality office here.
Trouble started when BJD aspirants accompanied by hundreds of supporters came to file their nominations. The protesting lawyers, under the joint action committee (JAC) banner, hurled tomatoes and plastic chairs on BJD nominees. A woman candidate of the ruling party fell down in the melee and sustained minor injuries.
The agitators also beat up a BJD candidate, Akhaya Pradhan, when he was returning after filing his papers. They also threw eggs other at candidates while they were returning after filing nominations.
Police resorted to mild lathicharge to rescue the candidates from the clutches of the agitators. Two FIRs were lodged at Town police station by either side following the incident, said IIC of Town police station Satya Kumar Nanda.
"At least 20 BJD aspirants and three independents managed to enter the office and file their nominations," said election officer Loknath Tiwari.
Sources said the JAC was angry over the ruling party's decision to contest the election, although the latter had earlier extended its support to their call for poll boycott over establishment of Orissa high court bench at Bhawanipatna. The lawyers as well as Congress and BJP have been demanding postponement of elections till a permanent bench of HC was set up here. State election commissioner Ajit Tripathy ruled out deferment of the polling day. "The date for filing of nominations was extended, but there is no occasion as of now to shift the polling day," he told mediapersons in Bhubaneswar.
President of Kalahandi Bar Association Daitari Pradhan said the BJD had betrayed the people of Kalahandi. "The people will give a befitting reply to the ruling party in the next assembly election," said Pradhan. The lawyers' association also condemned the police action and called for an emergency meeting to decide the future course of action.
Former BJP MLA Pradipta Naik and Congress MLA (Bhawanipatna) Dushmant Naik also accused the Naveen Patnaik-led party of reneging on its promise.
Trouble started when BJD aspirants accompanied by hundreds of supporters came to file their nominations. The protesting lawyers, under the joint action committee (JAC) banner, hurled tomatoes and plastic chairs on BJD nominees. A woman candidate of the ruling party fell down in the melee and sustained minor injuries.
The agitators also beat up a BJD candidate, Akhaya Pradhan, when he was returning after filing his papers. They also threw eggs other at candidates while they were returning after filing nominations.
Police resorted to mild lathicharge to rescue the candidates from the clutches of the agitators. Two FIRs were lodged at Town police station by either side following the incident, said IIC of Town police station Satya Kumar Nanda.
"At least 20 BJD aspirants and three independents managed to enter the office and file their nominations," said election officer Loknath Tiwari.
Sources said the JAC was angry over the ruling party's decision to contest the election, although the latter had earlier extended its support to their call for poll boycott over establishment of Orissa high court bench at Bhawanipatna. The lawyers as well as Congress and BJP have been demanding postponement of elections till a permanent bench of HC was set up here. State election commissioner Ajit Tripathy ruled out deferment of the polling day. "The date for filing of nominations was extended, but there is no occasion as of now to shift the polling day," he told mediapersons in Bhubaneswar.
President of Kalahandi Bar Association Daitari Pradhan said the BJD had betrayed the people of Kalahandi. "The people will give a befitting reply to the ruling party in the next assembly election," said Pradhan. The lawyers' association also condemned the police action and called for an emergency meeting to decide the future course of action.
Former BJP MLA Pradipta Naik and Congress MLA (Bhawanipatna) Dushmant Naik also accused the Naveen Patnaik-led party of reneging on its promise.
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