Cuttack, Jan. 12: The battle for the municipal corporation council has gained momentum with Congress firing its first electoral salvo at the BJD and releasing its manifesto.
Filing of nominations for the 59-member Cuttack Municipal Corporation will begin from tomorrow.
In its manifesto, the Congress promised to waive 50 per cent of holding tax. The party also vowed to rid the city of the mosquito menace and supply two mosquito nets to each family.
At the manifesto release meeting, president of Cuttack City Congress Committee Md Moquim alleged that the BJD-ruled corporation had failed on all fronts during its last tenure.
The Congress had a majority in the municipal council by having 21 of 35 wards in 1997. However, in 2003, the party could win from only 14 of 48 wards as a rebel group backed Independent candidates in ten wards, of whom three managed to win. In 2009, the party’s position slipped to eight in 54 wards. However, this time, the Congress has decided to field candidates from all the 59 wards .
Mayor Saumendra Ghose said: “The Congress manifesto betrays a sense of desperation arising out of rejection by the people.” The Congress manifesto promises rehabilitation of slum-dwellers before evacuation, vending zones for roadside vendors and unemployed youth, road expansion, construction of flyovers to solve traffic problems and night shelters for the urban poor.
The party also promised to revive Annapurna Theatre and Janata Theatre, which were cradles of Odia theatre. It also promised to improve the condition of municipal schools and hospitals.
POLL CALENDAR
Issue and filing of nomination forms — January 13 to 18
Publication of list of nominations received — Jan 13 to 18
Scrutiny of nominations — January 20
Publication of list of valid nominations — January 21
Last date for withdrawal of candidature — January 24
Publication of final list of contesting candidates — January 24
Polling date — February 6
Date of counting votes and declaration of results — February 7
First meeting of the council for mayor election — February 13
Election of deputy mayor — March 1
