In a fresh twist to the allegation of fraudulent withdrawal of nominations for panchayat samiti member post in Penthapala gram panchayat in Kendrapada district involving Kendrapada BJD MlA Kishore Tarai, samiti member candidate Gayatri Sethy on Monday took a U-turn by writing to the State Election Commission (SEC) claiming that she had herself in person withdrawn her nomination.

She further said she has given a media statement of not withdrawing nomination under pressure. She also wrote a letter to Kendrapada Sub-Collector in this regard. “I had withdrawn nomination along with my proposers and supporters at the Pattamundai BDO office on January 21 as I was not interested to fight the poll. I have withdrawn my candidatures under no pressure and influence. However, Congress leaders had pressurised me and my family, which forced me to lodge a complaint that I had not withdrawn the nomination,” Sethy stated in her letter.

“I had also given a statement to the media on the issue. But now, the matter is being politicised,” the letter, which was submitted to the Sub-Collector, read. Gayatri’s husband, who gave the letter to the Sub-Collector, said she was forced to tell lie under terrible pressure.

Meanwhile, reacting to the development, senior Kendrapada Congress leader Ganeswar Behera said Gayatri Sehty might be terrorised and lured by money which prompted her to change her version.

“I condemn this. A fair inquiry is required to bring out the truth,” said Behera. MlA Tarai denied his role in the whole issue.Tarai is accused of getting his wife Babita Tarai elected unopposed as samiti member by arbitrary withdrawal of the candidatures of Gayatri and another aspirant.