Rayagada: A single bench of the Orissa High Court served a notice on Makaranda Muduli and other defendants after hearing a petition on Rayagada Assembly constituency election Wednesday. The next hearing will be conducted after the Puja vacations.
Makaranda happens to be the only non-partisan MLA who was elected to the 16th Odisha Legislative Assembly from Rayagada segment. A case is said to have been filed in the High Court alleging that he furnished a false caste certificate.
Complainant R Harish Patnaik moved the High Court for nullifying the election of Makaranda. Furthermore, Harish raised the issue that ‘Rayagada Assembly constituency seat is reserved for Scheduled Tribes whereas Makaranda belongs to the Scheduled Caste (Jhodia Paraja)’.
In addition to the above Makaranda is said to have given false information and suppressed many in Forms 2 (B) and 26.
The HC has also made Lal Bihari Himirika (BJD) and Appalaswami Kadraka (Congress), Bahujan Samajwadi Party candidate Purnabati Majhi and BJP’s Basanta Kumar Ulaka parties in the case.
Makaranda has become vocal in connection with the case, saying, “I am a tribal man and my family belongs to Jhodia Paraja tribe for generations. I had submitted all testimonials pertaining to my tribe. I suspect political foulplay behind allegations against me.”
The grassroots-level social worker had defeated his opponents to win the Rayagada Assembly seat. Makaranda had secured 52,752 votes defeating his nearest rival of ruling BJD by a margin of 4,839 votes.
PNN