Malkangiri: A dreaded former Maoist Sukdev alias Budra Kabasi has forayed into the Cooperative Society elections which will be held soon in Malkangiri district. A native of Tekuguda Colony in Badigeta panchayat, Budra headed Malkangiri unit of CPI (Maoist) and was accused in several cases.
In 2016, he quit CPI (Maoist), attributing the decision to frequent accusations by Andhra cadre that he had been unfairly promoted over others.
Now as the Malkangiri administration has launched the process for Kalimela Cooperative Society election, Budra has entered the fray. On Tuesday he filed his nomination for the post of Chairman. Elections are to be held for the posts of Kalimela cooperative society chairman, vice-chairman and 15 posts of director, reports stated.
Accompanied by a posse of supporters, Budra submitted the nomination papers before the electoral officer Debendranath Nayak in Kalimela.
The Congress is supporting the candidature of Sukdev. While Kalimela LAMPS Authority is yet to come out with the final list, the victory of Budra is very likely as he is the only one in the fray.
Former Kalimela Block chairman Mala Madhi and other leaders from the party accompanied him Budra while filing nominations. Leaders of other political parties also wished the former extremist on the occasion.
During 2000 to 2010, Budra was accused in serious cases including kidnapping, assault, and burning of road construction equipment, as well as the 2008 killing of 17 members of Odisha’s Special Operations Group in an ambush on the Kalimela-Motu road in Malkangiri.
After quitting violence, Budra took up development activities, apart from taking up studies and vocational work.
