The Maoists in Orissa may have given a call to boycott the panchayat polls, but in Narayanpatna block of Koraput district they have reportedly got their “own” candidates elected unopposed.
Narayanpatna had almost come under siege in 2009 when the rebels propped up the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS) to take on the state. Sarpanch and panchayat samiti candidates ‘backed’ by the CMAS have won unopposed in Tentulipadar, Balipeta, Padapadar, Talagumandi, Borigi, Langalabeda, Kumbhari and Narayanpatna grampanchayats, said police officials. “Though those elected don’t have cases related to Maoist violence pending against them, we know for sure that they were backed by the rebels,” officials said.