 "Congress names pro-Posco leader for Paradip assembly seat")
The Congress party has nominated Bapi Sarkhel, a pro-Posco leader for Paradip assembly constituency, where the South Korean steel maker will set up its plant. His confirmation as a Congress candidate came on the last date of filing nomination papers.
Sarkhel, who heads Paradip-Erasama Industrial Development Council, an outfit to promote industrialisation in the area, has been known for his active support of the steel plant project. He has been jailed once over allegation of attacking the villagers during a clash between project supporters and opponents in 2011.
He is also an active member of the United Action Committee, organised to have dialogue with the administration for fulfilling demand of locals in exchange for their support of the largest foreign direct investment project of the country.
The Congress party today declared the names of the remaining 20 seats of 147 assembly constituency on the last date fearing backlashes from party workers, as many members of the party were not in favour of fielding Serkhel from Paradip.
The state Congress leaders have been opposing the land acquisition process for Posco steel plant. However, the Congress-led Union government has taken major steps to clear the hurdles for the project.
Despite the support from the local and Union government administration, the company has not been able to complete the boundary wall work for the 2700 acre acquired land. The supporters of the project are demanding concrete promises from the company before allowing the company contractors to enter their village.
In another major development, the party named Arun Dey as its candidate for Balasore assembly constituency, after his announcement of severing relationship with BJD. Dey had left Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) couple of weeks ago expecting a BJD ticket. But as the ruling party named Rabindra Jena as its nominee, Dey resigned from the party late Tuesday evening.
Congress also nominated former BJP leader Uma Ballav Rath as its candidate for Puri assembly seat. Apart from announcing 20 seats, it revised candidates for three places announced earlier.
The party has faced major dissatisfaction over ticket distribution this time. On Tuesday , several ticket aspirants along with their supporters attacked the houses of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Jayadev Jena and Union minister Srikant Jena complaining about discrimination over selection of candidates.
Sarkhel, who heads Paradip-Erasama Industrial Development Council, an outfit to promote industrialisation in the area, has been known for his active support of the steel plant project. He has been jailed once over allegation of attacking the villagers during a clash between project supporters and opponents in 2011.
He is also an active member of the United Action Committee, organised to have dialogue with the administration for fulfilling demand of locals in exchange for their support of the largest foreign direct investment project of the country.
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He will contest with Damodar Rout, the vice president of ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) from the area.
The Congress party today declared the names of the remaining 20 seats of 147 assembly constituency on the last date fearing backlashes from party workers, as many members of the party were not in favour of fielding Serkhel from Paradip.
The state Congress leaders have been opposing the land acquisition process for Posco steel plant. However, the Congress-led Union government has taken major steps to clear the hurdles for the project.
Despite the support from the local and Union government administration, the company has not been able to complete the boundary wall work for the 2700 acre acquired land. The supporters of the project are demanding concrete promises from the company before allowing the company contractors to enter their village.
In another major development, the party named Arun Dey as its candidate for Balasore assembly constituency, after his announcement of severing relationship with BJD. Dey had left Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) couple of weeks ago expecting a BJD ticket. But as the ruling party named Rabindra Jena as its nominee, Dey resigned from the party late Tuesday evening.
Congress also nominated former BJP leader Uma Ballav Rath as its candidate for Puri assembly seat. Apart from announcing 20 seats, it revised candidates for three places announced earlier.
The party has faced major dissatisfaction over ticket distribution this time. On Tuesday , several ticket aspirants along with their supporters attacked the houses of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Jayadev Jena and Union minister Srikant Jena complaining about discrimination over selection of candidates.