Jagatsinghpur: Expelled BJD MLA Damodar Rout, who had been holding the Ravan Podi Utsav in Erasama block of Jagatsinghpur district for the last 35 years was left fumed after the administration permitted MLA Prashant Muduli to hold the event this year.
This has further added to the controversy and politics, reports said.
Even after Prashant become the MLA of Balikuda-Ersama, it was Dama who continued organising the event every year. He had been doing it for the last 35 years.
However, this year the administration has given permission to Muduli to hold the event, in the presence of police force.
Unaware of the administration’s direction, Dama’s supporters had prepared the pandal for the event. Later, the administration had to pull down the stage constructed for Dama at the regional youth council ground, stoking the already tense political atmosphere in Jagatsinghpur.
In its reaction on the permission to Prashant, the administration clarified that Prashant has been given permission as he was the first applicant for holding the event.
Meanwhile, a face-off between the followers of Prashant and Dama appears to be getting intensified.
Followers and locals are yet to see what will be the next move of Dama, who during his recent visit had promised locals of a grand Ravan Podi utsav.
PNN
