Controversy continued to dog Kendrapada MlA Kishore Tarai putting the ruling BJD’s image at stake with just a few days left for the panchayat polls.
The MlA, who is already embroiled in the alleged forged nominations withdrawal to favour his wife Babita in the panchayat polls, again hogged headlines for wrong reasons for mentioning two separate names for his father in two separate affidavits in 2004 and 2014.
During 2004 general elections, the MlA had mentioned his father’s name as Bimbadhar Tarai in the affidavit before the Election Commission of India (ECI). In 2014 election, he has stated his father’s name as Bimala Tarai raising many eyebrows.
Meanwhile, opposition Congress and BJP demanded that the BJD clarify its stand on the issue.
“It evinces that the BJD is of the habit of hoodwinking people of Odisha. We urge Chief Minister and BJD party supremo Naveen Patnaik to unravel the truth,” said BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma.
Senior Congress leader Sarat Rout blasted both BJP and BJD and said, “Indeed it’s a cognisable offence. While former HRD Minister Smruti Irani of BJP is repeatedly changing her educational qualification there (Centre), here in Odisha elected people’s representative like Kishore Tarai is creating confusion in the minds of the people pertaining to his father’s identity.”
BJD spokesperson and MlA Sashi Bhusan Behera said the issue needs to be probed.
last week, two Samiti member aspirants lodged a complaint with police alleging that their candidatures were fraudulently withdrawn by Pattamundai BDO at the behest of BJD legislator Kishore Tarai since his wife Babita Tarai was a candidate from Penthapala. With her rivals not in the fray, she was set to win uncontested.