Panchayat polls: Filing of nominations to pick up as parties complete ticket distribution

Bhubaneswar: The filing of nomination papers for the ensuing panchayat polls will pick up from Monday with all three major political parties have almost distributed tickets to their candidates.

BJD, Congress and BJP claimed to have distributed tickets for the 852 Zila Parishad zones. The last date of filing nomination papers in January 17. The nomination process began on January 11.

“We have distributed tickets for candidates for all 852 ZP zones,” said Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) chief Prasad Harichandan.

Meanwhile, hectic parleys is continuing among leaders at various levels within the ruling BJD for selection of candidates. While it has distributed tickets for ZP zones, the party is still in a fix over selection of sarpanch candidates at various places as several aspirants are vying to win the party’s favour.

Party’s vice-president and minister Damodar Rout said such conflict is arising in places where senior leaders and MLAs are no longer involved.