Odisha: Parties begin process to finalise candidates for panchayat polls

BHUBANESWAR: With the process for the three-tier panchayat election having already started, political parties have started working on their strategies and picking candidates for various posts.
Though only the zilla parishad seat will be fought on party symbols, candidates affiliated to different parties contest for the posts of ward member, sarpanch and samiti member. It has been noticed that maximum aspirants are interested to fight under the BJD banner because of the winnability factor.
With assembly session scheduled to begin from December 1, MLAs are busy holding meetings with local leaders in their respective constituencies to discuss candidate selection in accordance with the seat reservation.
“We will finalize the candidate selection process for the different posts – ward member, sarpanch, samiti member and zilla parishad – by the end of December. Those who will are green-lighted to contest the election on behalf of our party, they will be asked to prepare the ground by enhancing their public engagements,” said a senior BJD leader requesting anonymity.
Party-hopping activities have gained momentum ahead of the panchayat polls with major parties holding joining programmes almost every day to welcome leaders from different parties.
Besides, the ruling and opposition parties have also kick-started their political activities. While the BJD has been banking on the smart cards under Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana and other welfare measures of the state government, the BJP and Congress have launched agitation against the government over the murder of Kalahandi school teacher Mamita Meher and the demand for removal of minister of state (home) Dibya Shankar Mishra for his alleged association with Gobinda Sahu, key accused case in the murder case.
With tenure of various pannchayati raj institutions (PRIs) ending on March 10 next year, the state election commission is planning to conduct the rural polls in February.
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