Political activities gained momentum here soon after the State Election Commission (SEC) on Friday announced the poll schedules for the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC). leaders of the three major political parties, the BJD, the Congress and the BJP, claimed that they are set well for the February 6 elections.
The five-year term of the current CMC council is ending on February 12. Notwithstanding the allegations of non performance and the ghost of relief material loot incident haunting the ruling BJD severely, the party’s leaders are hopeful that they would be voted back again to form the next council. In the current 54-member CMC, the BJD has formed the council winning in 37 wards in the 2009 polls. This time, however, the number of wards has increased to 59.
“We have already zeroed in on selection of candidates for the polls and chalked out strategies to form the next council,” said Cuttack-Barabati MlA Debashis Samantray, adding that the party has this time decided to field educated candidates having clean public image. The Congress, which had won only eight wards last time, too claims that they are well-prepared for the elections and have completed all preparations in selecting candidates in every ward. “We are determined to form the CMC council for the first time this year, and we will provide a corruption-free and progressive civic body,” said city Congress president Muhammed Moqim.
Finishing a poor third with only two corporators in 2009 after having shared the power in the first-ever CMC council formed way back in 2003 with party leader Nibedita Pradhan as Mayor, the BJP is also equally hopeful of forming the council alone this time. “We have the expertise and experience and are ready to form the council this time alone,” said former Minister Samir Dey.