local socio-cultural organisation Gadajata Parikrama, which organised the Athagarh Mahotsav for the last seven years, has decided to refrain from holding the festival this year due to some political interference, its secretary lalatendu Senapati has alleged. The organisation used to hold the seven-day-long Athagarh Mahotsav every year from December 13 to 19. “Since general elections are a few months ahead, the ruling party intervened to advertise its success stories through the Mahotsav. As the organising body was reluctant to do it, some artificial hurdles were created by the party, for which the body decided to abandon the programme,” said Senapati.