EX BJD MLA RECEIVED WARM WELCOME

EX BJD MLA RECEIVED WARM WELCOME 16/12/2011

ODISHA NEWS: Former BJD minister and four-time MLA of Athgarh Ranendra Pratap Swain, who was not allowed to contest the 2009 Assembly elections on technical grounds, returned here on Thursday to a rousing welcome by supporters after winning a prolonged legal battle in the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court last week endorsed an Odisha High Court judgment and observed that the then Returning Officer of the constituency had hurriedly rejected the nomination papers of official BJD candidate without due application of mind.

The Court in June last year had nullified the 2009 Assembly polls of Athgarh in which Independent candidate Ramesh Rout had won with the backing of Swain.
The Court had ordered for a fresh poll in the constituency which was however challenged in the apex court by Rout.

Emerging triumphant in the legal tussle that spanned nearly two years and eight months, Swain as he is popularly called in political circles, reached here by train from New Delhi as hundreds of his supporters from Athgarh stormed into the railway station here.

As he alighted from train around 12.30 pm, the slogan-shouting supporters welcomed him with garlands and bouquets and taken around the city in a massive rally.
The procession party comprising over hundred vehicles then went to Athgarh, about 40 kms from here.

Briefing newsmen before leaving for Athgarh, Swain said that the apex court verdict was actually a triumph for the people of his constituency.
I will now go to the people of Athgarh and chalk out my next course of action as per their directions.

I am a creation of the people of Athgarh to serve them till my last breath, he said in a choked voice.
The rousing welcome to the BJD leader at the railway station, however, marked a stark contrast as not a single ruling party leader of stature was seen around.
Even the official BJD flag, which on such occasions is used abundantly, was conspicuous by their absence.
Someone, however, arranged one party flag, which Swain was seen very emotionally putting on his shoulder.

Swain indicated that he still is a disciplined party worker when he announced that he would visit the Lord Jagannath Temple at Puri after meeting the people of his constituency and then proceed on to meet party supremo and chief minister Naveen Patnaik.

But political observers feel that Swain may not get the BJD ticket in the by-poll in the constituency as a major power block in the party is opposed to him.
Others feel he is an automatic choice of the party as the official party ticket in the 2009 polls was given to him.

He is not suspended from the party nor has he quit the party, said a Swain supporter.
There is not even a single allegation of anti-party activity against him. So why should he be denied the party ticket, he asked.

SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA,
BUREAU CHIEF, THESE DAYS,
ODISHA