The locals of Penthala panchayat on Tuesday staged a road blockade near Penthapala panchayat office by burning tyre on Dandisahi-Kuakhia road demanding before the district administration and State Election Commissioner (SEC) to take stern action against BDO-cum-Election Officer of Pattamundai block Prasant Kumar Rout.
Rout faces the charge of having withdrawn the nominations of Gayatri Sethi and Pramila Mallick, who are contesting for Samiti member post, by forging their signatures.
The agitators later demanded before the SEC and the district Collector to restore the nominations as valid.
Notably, the Pattamundai BDO-cum-Election Officer had allegedly resorted to the fraudulent means for facilitating unopposed win of Babita Tarei, wife of BJD MlA of Kendrapada Kishore Tarei, to the post of Penthapala samiti member.
Meanwhile, Congress activists on Tuesday staged demonstration in front of Pattamundai block office, claiming that the two Dalit candidates never applied for withdrawal.
The BDO of Pattamundai hatched a conspiracy to ensure Tarai wins unopposed. So, the BDO should be suspended and a case should be registered against him. He also should be relieved from Pattamundai Election Officer post, they demanded.
Meanwhile, the OPCC on Tuesday knocked the door of the SEC.
Kendrapada district Collector Muralidhar Mallik is conducting an inquiry by inviting the witness, who according to the BDO was present when the candidates withdrew their nomination. “I would submit a report to the SEC in this regard,” said Mallik.
When asked, if the signatures of the candidates along with their specimen signatures would be sent to forensic lab to determine the authenticity, Collector Mallik stated, “If the SEC directs so, then it will be done.”