BALASORE: It is a clear case of ‘justice delayed is justice denied’. A Zilla Parishad candidate who had sought the intervention of the court for recounting of votes five years back has become an MLA now. But the final verdict is yet to come. After 2007 three-tier panchayat election, Congress leader Debi Prasanna Chand had filed a petition in the High Court seeking recounting of votes of the ZP zone 14. Though he became an MLA from Jaleswar constituency in 2009 Assembly election, his wait for the final hearing of the petition continues. Chand said he had moved the court as the election officer declared his opponent, a BJD candidate, winner despite the fact that he had won the election by 167 votes. “After the booth-level counting on the election day it was declared that I had won by 167 votes. But hours later, BJD candidate Nityananda Sahu announced himself winner and took out a rally. A few days later, Sahu was officially declared winner by a margin of 14 votes. “My appeal for recounting was declined by the then election officer and BDO. It was then that I filed a petition in the court for recounting,” he said. Later, the court directed to keep the ballot papers under tight security and accordingly, two armed cops were deployed to guard the papers kept inside the Basta block office. While the cops were seen guarding the room till last year, none ever tried to ascertain whether the ballot papers were in a condition for recounting.
Comments
0 comment