Bhubaneswar: The Congress, which has already announced its mayor candidate for Cuttack, is still mulling over a few names suitable for taking on the BJD and BJP in the contest for Bhubaneswar mayor.
If sources are to be believed Madhusmita Acharya, daughter-in-law of late Congress MLA Kangali Charan Panda, is likely to be the party’s mayor candidate for Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation. However, Rashmi Mohapatra, who unsuccessfully contested the 2019 assembly elections from the Bhubaneswar Ekamra constituency, is also a top contender for the ticket to the post.
The list of aspirants also includes Parbati Biswal, Nalini Senapati and Sabita Patnaik and Pramodini Mishra and Congress is likely to make an announcement in the next couple of days.
Veteran Congress leader and MLA, Suresh Routray told the media, “The Congress has 11 women aspirants for the Mayor’s office in Bhubaneswar. All are well qualified and suitable for the seat. The name will be announced soon.”
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On Wednesday, the Grand Old party finalised the president of the Cuttack City Congress Committee and former corporator, Giribala Behera, as its Mayor candidate for the Cuttack Municipal Corporation. She is likely to file her nomination papers on Thursday. Congress is also likely to enter into alliance with the CPI and CPM for Cuttack Municipal Corporation.
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The filing of nominations for election to the 106 Urban Local Bodies and three municipal corporations began on March 2 and will conclude on March 7. Two corporations – Bhubaneswar and Berhampur – have been reserved for woman. And this time, the voters will directly elect the mayors when polls are held on March 24.
