A total of 1,265 nominations were filed for the elections to 20 of the 22 Urban local Bodies (UlBs) spread over nine districts in western Odisha as the date of nomination ended on Tuesday. However, no candidates filed their nominations on the demand ‘no court, no vote’ in Bolangir Municipality and Titilagrah NAC.
Meanwhile, reacting to the non-filing of nominations in the two civic bodies, State Election Commissioner Ajit Kumar Tripathy said that the election process in the 20 UlBs would be completed as per the notification and the polling would be held on November 22 for 306 Wards.
However, the SEC would decide on the possible new dates for holding elections in the two UlBs only after completion of elections in the 22 UlBs. According to SEC sources, on the last day of the filing of nominations, as many as 569 nomination papers were filed taking the total nomination papers to 1,265 in respect of 20 civic bodies. On the penultimate day, a total of 143 aspirants had filed their nominations.
The sources said that highest number of 127 nomination papers were filed in Brajarajnagar Municipality, followed by 103 in Bhawanipatna, 100 in Rajgangpur, 84 in Jharsuguda and 83 in Sundergarh. While 79 nominations were filed in Baragarh, 74 papers were filed in Kantabanji, 72 in Khariar Road in Nuapada district, 52 in Patnagarah, 56 in Junagarah NAC, 47 each in Kuchinda NAC and Subarnpur, 49 each in Binka and Kesinga, 43 in Tarava, 36 in Barapali NAC and 52 in Deogarh civic body.
The nomination process on Monday and Tuesday turned violent when Congress and BJP activists seeking deferment of the polls, tried to prevent BJD candidates from filing their papers at the municipality office in Bhawanipatna. 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 the BJD nominees. The agitators also reported beating up some aspirants, while they were returning after filing nominations.
Meanwhile, in Ganjam district, as many as 12 BJD candidates won as Deputy chairperson elections, which were held on Tuesday. A BJD woman candidate also won as Deputy Mayer in prestigious Brahmapur Municipal Corporation. Congress only own two Deputy Chairperson posts, while Independent candidates won in rest of the seats, the SEC sources said.