The body of a defeated ward member candidate, Kameswar Palka was spotted on the outskirts of Kanagaon village within limits of Bandhugaon police in Koraput district early today.
The deceased had contested for the post of a ward member of Kanagaon village where the elections were held on Sunday, police said.
"The body was recovered from an agricultural field with the throat slit. Though, the modus operandi is similar to that of Maoists, involvement of Naxals in this incident is yet to be ascertained," said SDPO (Laxmipur) H K Padhi.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Suresh Rout died in a road mishap last night while he was travelling on a bike with a friend.
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Alleging that Rout's death was a 'pre-planned' murder, former OPCC president Jaydev Jena demanded CBI enquiry.
"This was a politically motivated murder. Opposition BJD leaders and activists always tried to get him out of the way," Jena alleged.
Jena demanded registration of case under section 302 of IPC and immediate arrest of the culprits.
Suresh and his friend met with an accident on Sunday when an unidentified vehicle collided against their bike at Ambagadia chowk.
"The police started a murder a case at Banta Police Station," said Bhadrak SP Dilip Das.