Report by Amarnath Parida ,Jagatsinghpur :The result of Dhinkia panchyat election has given new inspiration and cheer to the activists of Posco Pratirodha Sangram Samiti for winning their sarpanch and panchyat samiti member candidates while Pro Posco activists have been harassed for defeat of their candidates in this election on Wednesday.
Sources said that PPSS fielded its sarpanch candidate Mr Sisir Mohapatra and PS member candidate Mr Prakash Jena in this panchyat election. Mr Mohapatra is working as secretary of PPSS while Mr Jena has been languishing in Kujang jail since seven months after his arrest on Posco violence issue. PPSS candidate Mr Mohapatra has defeated his rival candidate Mrs Salila Nayak, wife of former sarpanch late Basant Nayak by margin 73 votes .Mr Mohapatra has got 2005 votes while Nayak has got 1932 votes.
Similarly, PS member candidate Mr Jena has also defeated his rivalry candidate Mr Nrusingh Das by 282 votes in which Jena has got 1672 votes while Mr Das has got 1390 votes. Sarpanch candidate Mr Nayak and PS member Mr Das who were defeated from this seat was backed by Posco supporters. On the other hand, Zilla Parishad candidate Mr Saubhagaya Behera who was contesting as independent candidate has defeated his rival congress candidate Mr Rupakar Sethy by 995 votes. Mr Behera has got 6742 votes while Mr Sethi has got 5767 votes.
In last panchyat in 21st February 2007, PPSS gave its candidate in which PPSS activists determined to win their sarpanch and panchyat samiti member candidates to strengthen their stronghold against Posco movement while Posco supporters also determined to win BJD supported candidates to strengthen their base to fight against anti Posco movement. This led clash between anti and pro Posco activists in which panchyat election was postponed in this panchyat due to violence. On the other hand, PPSS candidate Mr Prakash Jena who won PS member seat has been jailed since seven months while another PPSS leader cum secretary of PPSS Mr Sisir Mohapatra who also Sarpanch post is now leading Posco movement.
Kujang police registered 132 cases against 450 anti Posco activists including Mr Mohapatra and Mr Jena. More than, 450 anti Posco actvists did not cast their vote due to theart of police arrest while winning sarpanch Mr Mohapatra did not turn to Trilochanpur to cast his vote for threat of police arrest. Winning PS member Mr Jena has been jailed in Kujang jail so he did not cast his vote. On the other hand, Posco supporters have accused district administration and police for taking major role to win PPSS candidates. They have alleged that many anti Posco activists whom cases have been pending have given their vote in favour of PPSS candidates. They have also alleged that many anti Posco activists were sitting as agent in polling booth at Trilochanpur in spite of execution of warrant for Posco violence issue.
On the other hand, many Posco supporters did not turn to Trilochanpur to cast their vote due to threat of anti Posco activists so police did not take any steps to provide security to exercise their franchise in which PPSS candidates won sarpanch and PS member seat convincible. Voters of Gobindpur being identified as Posco supporters did not go to Trilochanpur to cast their vote by covering 15 Kms road in which PPSS candidates won sarpanch and PS member seat easily. While Posco supporters have been harassed by defeating in this election so anti Posco activists have observed this day with cheer and happiness.
Winning sarpanch Mr Mohapatra has expressed that’ today’s result has given new boost to expedite Posco movement for the protection of their soil and livelihood. His main work would be driven out Posco Company from Dhinkia area to bring peace in this locality’. He also clarified that villagers of Gobindpur and Dhinkia do not want Posco project because they have given their reply about Posco steel project through ballot paper by winning PPSS candidates. Meanwhile, anti Posco activists including women have worshipped God or Goddess for hearing their call and distributed sweets among them for this achievement.
BDO, Erasama Mr Muralidhar Swain has announced the result of candidates after counting at Erasama block office. One platoon police forces were deployed at Erasama to avert any untoward incidence during counting of votes.