HC grants more time to poll petition respondents

The Orissa High Court gave three more weeks after expiry of today's deadline to a minister, an MP and two MLAs to file their replies to the petitions made by their respective rival political candidates or parties challenging their election.
Minister Sanjay Kumar Dasburma, who was asked on July 25 to file his reply to the petition of Congress leader Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra today failed to meet the HC deadline and sought eight more weeks to do the same.
The single-judge bench of Justice Shatrughna Pujahari, however, granted him only three more weeks and posted the matter to be heard again on September 18.

Nabarangpur BJD MP Balabhadra Majhi was given the same relief by the High Court in the election petition filed by defeated Congress leader and former MP Pradeep Majhi.
Justice Pujahari also gave similar relief to Laxmipur Congress MLA, K C Kulesika and Soro BJD legislator Parshuram Dhada.
While BJD leader Hema Gamang, wife of former Congress Chief Minister Hemananda Gomango, has challenged the election of Kuleselia, Congress and BJP leaders of Soro have challenged the election of Dhada.