Berhampur: The election officer at Chhatrapur, district headquarters town of Ganjam district, on Saturday postponed election to the chairperson’s post of the Chhatrapur panchayat samiti after six of its members reportedly tested Covid-positive.
Other samiti members, along with their supporters, staged a demonstration in front of the collector’s office in protest against the election officer’s decision.
“We will continue our protest till the election is held,” said Kiran Kumari Dassamiti member of the Agasti Nuagaon panchayat who filed nomination for the chairperson post.
As the agitation intensified, armed forces were deployed to monitor the law and order situation, said police.
In all 18 panchayats of Chhatrapur block, BJD candidates have been elected. However, the winning candidates have division among them in terms of their proximity to Chhatrapur MLA Subash Behera. While six members are in the pro-MLA group, the rest belong to the anti-MLA faction.
The election officer informed the health office as some candidates developed Covid-19 symptoms after filing their nomination.
Soon after rapid antigen tests were conducted on the candidates and six tested positive.
They were rushed to hospital on an ambulance.
“Since they could not participate in voting due to health constraints, we have postponed the election to be held on Saturday. We will intimate the state election commission (SEC) about the development through the district election officer. The fresh date of the election will be declared by the SEC,” said the election officer Mitali Patra.
Other samiti members, along with their supporters, staged a demonstration in front of the collector’s office in protest against the election officer’s decision.
“We will continue our protest till the election is held,” said Kiran Kumari Dassamiti member of the Agasti Nuagaon panchayat who filed nomination for the chairperson post.
As the agitation intensified, armed forces were deployed to monitor the law and order situation, said police.
In all 18 panchayats of Chhatrapur block, BJD candidates have been elected. However, the winning candidates have division among them in terms of their proximity to Chhatrapur MLA Subash Behera. While six members are in the pro-MLA group, the rest belong to the anti-MLA faction.
The election officer informed the health office as some candidates developed Covid-19 symptoms after filing their nomination.
Soon after rapid antigen tests were conducted on the candidates and six tested positive.
They were rushed to hospital on an ambulance.
“Since they could not participate in voting due to health constraints, we have postponed the election to be held on Saturday. We will intimate the state election commission (SEC) about the development through the district election officer. The fresh date of the election will be declared by the SEC,” said the election officer Mitali Patra.