<p>The State Election Commission (SEC), Odisha, Monday asked the district collector of Bolangir to submit a report on the alleged auction of the post of Sarpanch in Bilesarda gram panchayat.</p>.<p>The SEC direction came in the wake of a media report where it was alleged that the Sarpanch for the Bilesarda gram panchayat was nominated through auction.</p>.<p>One Susant Chhatria reportedly won the bid by promising to pay Rs 44,000 for the development of Jagannath temple at the village under Puintala block.</p>.<p>Bolangir district collector Chanchal Rana said: “I have got information in this regard and an inquiry is being conducted. A report will be sent to the SEC by tomorrow.”</p>.<p>Though the alleged auction took place at a Gram Sabha meeting on Friday, the matter came to the fore on Monday when the filing of nomination papers began in the state.</p>.<p>Sources claimed that the meeting was attended by the heads of three villages - Bandanakata, Kasurpali, and Bileisarda - at the Jagannath temple where the alleged bidding took place.</p>.<p>Chhatria told a local news channel that he has agreed to pay Rs 44,000 to the villagers for the development of the Jagannath Temple.</p>.<p>“I have agreed to pay under one condition that none will contest against me. If I get elected unopposed, then my expenditure on campaigning will be saved. I will give that money for the development of the temple,” Chhatria said.</p>.<p>Dinabandhu Gartia, a villager, who attended the meeting, said the panchayat elections are being held amid the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic.</p>.<p>“We thought if we help a candidate to win unopposed, we can prevent gathering and in the process, we can check the spread of the virus,” Gartia said.</p>.<p>Four persons wished to contest for the post of Sarpanch but Chhatria agreed to give more money than the others, the villager claimed. </p>
<p>The State Election Commission (SEC), Odisha, Monday asked the district collector of Bolangir to submit a report on the alleged auction of the post of Sarpanch in Bilesarda gram panchayat.</p>.<p>The SEC direction came in the wake of a media report where it was alleged that the Sarpanch for the Bilesarda gram panchayat was nominated through auction.</p>.<p>One Susant Chhatria reportedly won the bid by promising to pay Rs 44,000 for the development of Jagannath temple at the village under Puintala block.</p>.<p>Bolangir district collector Chanchal Rana said: “I have got information in this regard and an inquiry is being conducted. A report will be sent to the SEC by tomorrow.”</p>.<p>Though the alleged auction took place at a Gram Sabha meeting on Friday, the matter came to the fore on Monday when the filing of nomination papers began in the state.</p>.<p>Sources claimed that the meeting was attended by the heads of three villages - Bandanakata, Kasurpali, and Bileisarda - at the Jagannath temple where the alleged bidding took place.</p>.<p>Chhatria told a local news channel that he has agreed to pay Rs 44,000 to the villagers for the development of the Jagannath Temple.</p>.<p>“I have agreed to pay under one condition that none will contest against me. If I get elected unopposed, then my expenditure on campaigning will be saved. I will give that money for the development of the temple,” Chhatria said.</p>.<p>Dinabandhu Gartia, a villager, who attended the meeting, said the panchayat elections are being held amid the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic.</p>.<p>“We thought if we help a candidate to win unopposed, we can prevent gathering and in the process, we can check the spread of the virus,” Gartia said.</p>.<p>Four persons wished to contest for the post of Sarpanch but Chhatria agreed to give more money than the others, the villager claimed. </p>