Odisha deputy CM’s IA in a case challenging his election from Patnagarh rejected

CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court has rejected BJP MLA and deputy chief minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo’s interlocutory application (IA) seeking intervention against refusal of the collector of Balangir to provide him certain documents required to file a written statement in reply to the petition that has challenged his election from Patnagarh constituency.

Saroj Kumar Meher, the sitting BJD MLA, who lost to Singh Deo filed the election petition seeking declaration of the election of the deputy CM as void on the ground of improper acceptance of his nomination papers by the returning officer in spite of noncompliance with the statutory provisions.