It seems the ruling BJD is going to face a tough challenge within its party workers in the ensuing Kendrapada civic body poll following the local MLA allegedly provided tickets to some of his protégés by neglecting several aspirants.
Those denied tickets have filed their nomination as Independent candidates which is apprehended to split BJD votes and may lead to the victory of other parties.
Several BJD workers alleged that a list of persons to get ticket for councillor post which was prepared at the party headquarters had allegedly been tampered by the MLA of Kendrapada who changed some aspirant candidates names and provided tickets to others.
Even, some of the sitting councilors, who have a strong base too were ignored by the local MLA. Though MLA Sashibhuban Behera, earlier provided green signal to some of them, but they were denied tickets in the eleventh hour.
If sources are to be believed, the sitting councilor of ward no-1, Kaliprasad Mishra,who is close to Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak and Sasibhushan Behera and is district coordinator of Mo Odisha Paribar, was denied ticket. He filed nomination paper as an Independent candidate.
Similarly, sitting councilor of ward no-4 ,Devendra Rout, who was assured of ticket by the MLA to contest from ward no -4 too was denied party ticket. He filed nomination paper as an Independent candidate.
Chandan Khan, district president of BJD minority community cell,was all set to contest from ward no-15 from BJD party ticket ,but he was denied ticket. Similarly,Sk Rehmat,the sitting councilor of ward no-12, prepared himself to contest the poll from ward no-13. But he was denied party ticket.
Ashok Kumar Lenka, husband of Jayanti Lenka, who was the sitting vice chairman of Kendrapada municipality, was also assured of party ticket for contesting the councilor post for ward number-19, but he too was deprived of the chance.
Former vice chairman,Sabita Sahu, having denied party ticket also filed nomination paper for ward number-18 as an Independent candidate.
Political observers said those who failed to get party tickets are going to be a major force to defeat the BJD candidates.