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Cuttack: Acceptance of resignation letter of Mayor Anita Behera in the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) meeting within two minutes has drawn flak from the Congress and BJP corporators Monday.
The Opposition members were expecting a detailed discussion at the council meeting over the manner in which Behera and other corporators managed to get ration cards issued in their names under National Food Security Act (NFSA). However, everything ended within minutes after Ward No.31 corporator Bijay Kumar Sahu tabled a proposal to accept Behera’s resignation which ultimately got the approval of Licence and Appeal Standing Committee chairman Bikash Ranjan Behera and other BJD members, said the sources.
Although independent corporator Hrusikesh Pradhan sought a discussion in this regard, the proposal was rejected.
According to sources, the Congress members demanded fresh elections to the Mayoral post following the resignation of Behera. However, the quick acceptance of the resignation letter left the Congress members fuming.
An agitated Pradhan said, “This shows the democracy in ruling BJD. Injustice is done to a Scheduled Caste woman by accepting her resignation without discussion. Cuttack residents have been betrayed.”
Leader of Opposition (Cong) Giribala Behera said, “The BJD high command’s direction was followed undemocratically. Seven lakh people of the city have been betrayed.”
Hitting out at Cuttack-Barabati MLA Debasish Samantray and Cuttack-Choudwar MLA Pravat Biswal, corporator Dharmanand Patra (Cong) said corruption has reached its most terrible stage under BJD rule. However, it is unfortunate that no discussion was allowed over the issue, he said adding it was the shortest ever meeting of the council.
Baidyeswar Panda (BJP) said Behera resigned from Mayor’s post after she came under party pressure. But a discussion should have been allowed before arriving at a decision. Everything appeared pre-planned and the meeting was just a formality, he added.
Bijay Kumar Sahu (BJD) said, “Behera had resigned on moral grounds. I supported the proposal which was mooted by the deputy mayor and it got the approval of other corporators.”
Manoj Sethy (BJD) said, “There is no need to politicise the issue as Behera had quit on her own.”
Soon the opposition members shouted slogans against the ruling party corporators and demanded a fresh election to the council as many corporators had illegally availed ration cards under NFSA.
Media persons were not allowed to cover the proceedings which angered Congress members who demanded entry of reporters into the council hall. Finally, the scribes were allowed into the hall.
