SUNDARGARH: Ending the one and a half decades reign of Congress in the prestigious Sundargarh Zilla Parishad (ZP), the BJD on Tuesday won the ZP president post.Pitrus Toppo of BJD won the seat by defeating his nearest Independent rival Pyari Bodra. Toppo of Lefripara (A) constituency secured 19 votes against the 16 votes secured by Bodra of Kuanrmunda (A) ZP seat.Officials said besides Toppo and Bodra, Congress nominee Sushil Kindo had filed nomination, but Kindo pulled out from the fray. Rourkela ADM PC Pathi, election officer, announced the result. Kindo’s withdrawal was seen as a move not to split non-BJD votes as Bodra, backed by Birmitrapur MLA George Tirkey, garnered eight votes of Congress, six of Independents and one vote each of CPI and JMM. Meanwhile, ignoring the ongoing tussle between two powerhouses of BJD Minister Sarada Prasad Nayak and party Rajya Sabha member Mangla Kisan, the BJD leadership sealed its official stamp on Toppo. Although BJD has secured a comfortable majority of 19 seats in the 35-member ZP, the regional party faced a tough task in choosing Toppo.Party sources said consolidation of Christian minority votes for the 2014 general elections tipped the scales in favour of Toppo, a retired teacher from minority community.
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