Post News Network
Sambalpur, Feb 24: State housing and urban development department Monday announced the details of reconstitution and reservation of wards under Sambalpur Municipal Corporation. It has evoked sharp reactions in political
circles.
While the government notification reportedly dashed the hopes of several hopefuls in the wake of SMC elections, they alleged irregularities have been resorted to in finalising the procedure.
Reports said, SMC has been constituted comprising 41 wards, including Burla NAC, Hirakud NAC, Sambalpur municipality and 12 other panchayats. Later, the state government made some modifications about the constitution of wards and the reservation. After the modification, six wards were reserved for women of backward category, six for backward, three for women of ST, three for ST, five for women of SC, four for SC, seven for women and seven were kept unreserved. According to the modification notification, 10 days starting from January 15 to 25 were given to receive complaints and suggestions from the citizens.
Members of several political parties pressed for further changes in the constitution of wards and reservations. They filed 30 complaints with Sambalpur municipality. However, no alteration was found in the list announced Monday which has made the political leaders panicky. This has allegedly shattered the dreams of members of political parties who were hopeful of becoming corporators. Large scale irregularities have been resorted to in the reconstitution of wards and reservation to suit the poll prospects of ruling BJD, they alleged. BJP’s state spokesman Suresh Pujari said, “Proper procedures have not been followed in the reconstitution and reservation of wards. The government should seek the opinion of the major political parties and an all-party meeting could have been called.”
“The move by the government is politically motivated and the 10 days given for lodging complaint was nothing but a farce,” Town Congress president Jayshankar Mishra said.
Government deputy chief whip and Rairakhol MLA Rohit Pujari said, “Wards have been constituted impartially taking the population into consideration. There was no political interference in the process as alleged by the opposition.”