Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik allegedly campaigned for Khuntakata panchayat sarpanch Rajesh Nayak, who, was arrested by the Kolkata police on charges of a series of crimes, including murder, on Monday.
According to reports, at an election meeting organised by Athagarh BJD MlA Ranendra Pratap Swain on January 25, 2012, Patnaik had urged people to vote for Nayak, the BJD-supported candidate, for the sarpanch post. MlA Swain was a strong backer of Nayak. However, despite the CM’s campaign, Nayak was not able to win the election.
Nayak lost the election to Independent candidate Bilas Chandra Behera by over 1,000 votes. Eyebrows were raised when Behera resigned from the post citing health grounds a few months after winning the elections. The grapevine had it that he could not take on the might of Nayak, who allegedly ran a crime syndicate in the area and enjoyed the full backing of the local MlA. In the by-election that followed, no one dared contest Nayak, who won uncontested. Having become sarpanch, Nayak consolidated his position in the area, sources said.