BJP leader Binod Dash’s name deleted from voters list, HC to decide on Thursday

Bhubaneswar: The Senior BJP Leader Binod Dash’s name is missing from the electoral roll of the Choudwar Cuttack assembly constituency. Consequently his name has not been included in the electoral roll by the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) for the urban local body polls scheduled to be held on March 24.

Thus Dash has  sought the Orissa High Court’s intervention. The petition has filed on February 18. The petition has sought the Court’s direction to publish the final wardwise electoral roll for CMC and including his name by making necessary correction. The petition has also sought direction to the State Election Commission to allow the CMC’s electoral officer to include his name and publish the final electoral roll of CMC.

The matter came of first on February 22. The High Court received notices to the State Government, the State Election Commission, CMC Comissioner and the CMC Election Officer. After hearing the replies of the respondents the single judge bench has fixed March 3 for the final order on Sri Binod Dash’s petition seeking judicial intervention for inclusion of his name in the voter list for the ensuing Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) elections on March 24.

The outcome of the petition assumes significance as Dash (63) is reportedly a major contender for the BJP candidate for the mayor election in CMC. Das is a resident of Professorpara area of Ward no 31 of CMC under Choudwar Cuttack Assembly constituency.

According to the petition, Dash is qualified as per provisions of the Representation of People Act as well as the Municipal Corporation Act to be enlisted as a voter in the electoral rolls of both Assembly and CMC. But his name was omitted from the Choudwar Cuttack Assembly electoral rolls published on January 5, 2022. Consequently, his name has been deleted from the electoral roll published by the CMC.