Soro (Balasore): The State Election Commission has disqualified six councillors of Soro Municipality for defecting from the BJP to the BJD ahead of the 2024 general elections.
The decision follows a petition filed on June 3, 2024, by BJP leader Nalinikanta Mohapatra, who sought their removal under the anti-defection law.
After examining the complaint and completing the hearing process, the Commission on Friday delivered its final order, cancelling the membership of all six councillors.
Those disqualified include Executive Chairperson Sasmita Das of Ward No. 3, along with Urmila Raut of Ward No. 1, Reena Rani Sethi of Ward No. 2, Pavitra Sethi of Ward No. 8, Ranjan Kumar Das of Ward No. 9, and Tanyarani Mohapatra of Ward No. 14. All six had resigned from the BJP and formally joined the BJD just before the polls.
With their memberships now revoked, the seats in these wards stand vacant and fresh elections will be required as per SEC norms.
The ruling is expected to create ripples in the local political landscape of Soro, where party alignments and internal equations have already been sensitive in the aftermath of the general elections.
