Cuttack: Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das has withdrawn his election petition filed in Orissa High Court, challenging the 2024 Assembly election victory of BJD’s Manorama Mohanty from the Narla constituency in Kalahandi district, following instructions from party high command.
The single-judge bench of Justice Sashikanta Mishra allowed the withdrawal application on March 30, after noting that the decision was taken without any inducement or private arrangement between the parties.
The petition had advanced to the hearing stage, with two witnesses already examined from the petitioner’s side.
In his application, Das stated that the Congress high command had directed him not to pursue the case further, respecting the verdict of the majority of voters in Narla. As a disciplined party worker, he chose to comply. Advocate B C Panda, representing Das, emphasised this point during the proceedings. Senior advocate G K Agarwal, appearing for Mohanty, raised no objection to the withdrawal.
However, Das was directed to pay Rs 5,000 as costs to the respondent within two weeks. The court also ordered the publication of the withdrawal notice in the official gazette and directed the registry to inform the Election Commission of India and the Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly.
The OPCC chief lost to Mohanty by a narrow margin of 5,205 votes. Official results showed Mohanty securing 67,532 votes (36.47%), while Das received 62,327 votes (33.66%). BJP candidate Aniruddha Padhan came third with 47,417 votes.
