As many as six candidates, including three women, withdrew their nomination papers for the upcoming Pattamundai NAC polls. They were Sarat Majhi (ward-4), Rebati Sethy (ward-7), Sarifun Nisha Begum (ward-11) , Santilata Kundu (ward-12), Ramchandra Mallick (ward-17) and Anirudhha Nayak (ward-20). They had filed their nominations as Independent candidates.
In ward-12, Santilata Kundu had filed nomination against her spouse Bhaskar Kundu from Congress. Similarly, Anirudha Nayak had filed nomination against his wife Mitarani Nayak of Congress. Sarifun Nisha Begum was to fight against her sister –in-law Rijwana Begum of BJD.According to Pattamundai Election Officer Pabitra Mohan Dash, after the withdrawal of the six candidates, the total number of nominations for the polls to the Pattamundai NAC stood at 65.
Polls will be conducted in 19 of the total 20 wards in then civic body as no nomination was filed for ward-13, reserved for ST (woman). According to official sources, Out of 20 wards, four wards, including 11,12,18 and 20 are unreserved, whereas ward 2,7 and 15 are reserved for female SC candidates. While ward 3,10 and 14 are reserved for female candidates (Backward Class of Citizen), ward 8,16 and19 are reserved for female (general). Similarly, ward 4,17 and 9 remain reserved for SC candidates and ward 1,5,6 are reserved for BCC candidates. The chairman seat is reserved for female. As many as 27,014 voters, including 12,722 female, will cast their votes in 33 polling booths. As many as 26 polling booths out of 33 are said to be sensitive. The ruling BJD has fielded candidates in 19 wards whereas Congress fielded its candidates in as many wards and BJP in 9 wards. Straight fight between the Congress and BJD candidates is expected at wards 2, 8,5,16, whereas triangular fight is likely in ward 4, 7, 9, 17, 18, 19 and 20, said sources.