Bhubaneswar: The panchayat elections in the state this time will see a fair mix of candidates belonging to different occupations vying for different posts.
With politics no more remaining an untouchable area for the educated mass and professionals, a retired SP in Jajpur district and two journalists have jumped into fray.
The retired police officer, Ramesh Chandra Behera has filed nomination for Bari panchayat samiti member post in Jajpur district. Belonging to Alipur village under Bari panchayat, Behera had passed graduation in 1981 and joined as sub-inspector in Odisha Police.
Following promotion to higher posts, Behera retired as SP, Crime Branch in 2016. He hopes that his 30 years of honest service to the people as a police officer will get him elected in the panchayat polls.
Ranjan Mishra, a journalist having 15 years of experience in broadcast media, has filed papers for Zilla Parishad (ZP) member post from zone-3 in Borriguma block of Koraput district. Another journalist from the district, Rajesh Sagaria, has filed nominations for ZP post from zone-1 of the same block.
Similarly, a retired lecturer and a retired bank manager have also joined the elections this time in Jajpur. Former lecturer Kishore Chandra Behura has filed papers for sarpanch post of Balipadia panchayat under Barchana block, while the former banker, Sisir Kumar Mohanty is trying his luck for ZP member post in Rasulpur block.
