The Orissa High Court has issued notice to BJD MLA Sarada Prasad Naik of Rourkela asking him to file counters to an election petition filed by Nihar Ray of BJP challenging his election to the Assembly.
Justice Dr AK Mishra, admitting Ray’s petition last week, has fixed November 20 for the next hearing in the matter, informed Ray’s counsel SP Das.
Ray, who lost to Naik in the elections held in April this year, has alleged that Naik was Chairman of the Rourkela Municipal Corporation on the day he filed his nomination papers for the elections.
Urging the court to disqualify the MLA under the office of profit law, the petitioner has also claimed that Naik had given a false statement in the form of an affidavit with reference to his movable and immovable assets.