By-Election on May 2 for Talada Samiti Member: A Triangular Contest
Kakatpur: Voting will be held on May 2 for the Samiti Member position of the well-known Talada Panchayat under Astaranga Block in Puri district, often referred to as Dwipanchal. A total of three candidates remain in the fray for this by-election, clearly indicating a triangular contest. The candidates have already been allotted their respective election symbols.
Initially, nomination papers were filed by Sukanta Sethi, Prithwiraj Sethi, Amiya Ranjan Sethi, Balaram Sethi, and Pratap Chandra Khundai. However, two candidates—Pratap Chandra Khundai and Prithwiraj Sethi—withdrew their nominations. As per the Block Election Officer, the remaining three candidates were assigned their election symbols: Amiya Ranjan Sethi received the “kettle” symbol, Balaram Sethi was allotted the “stool” symbol, and Sukanta Sethi was given the “bus” symbol.
This by-election was necessitated following the demise of BJD-supported Samiti Member Giridhari Sethi in January. The outcome of this by-election is considered to be a matter of prestige for the local MLA and State Home Minister Tusharkanti Behera.
