Kotpad: The election of the Koraput District Sports Association is scheduled for July 11, but the voter list released for the election does not include the names of any sportspersons from Kotpad, Kundura, or Baipariguda blocks.
Earlier, this issue had been brought to the attention of the Sub-Collector, Jeypore Sub-Divisional Officer, and even the District Collector. The then District Collector had assured necessary action, but currently, sportspersons from Kotpad Block and Kotpad NAC have been completely ignored.
When questioned, the District Sports Officer stated that the process is being carried out based on a pending High Court case filed by social activist Anup Patra, and that the district administration has no role in the present procedure. However, as per legal norms, sportspersons from all blocks and urban areas should be included in the election process.
Demanding immediate inclusion of sportspersons from Kotpad, Kundura, and Baipariguda in the voter list, several local leaders, including Kotpad Sports Club Secretary Md. Salim, Vice-President Seetanath Biswal, former Bar Association President Pankaj Kumar Patra, Pradeep Buxi, and Rajendra Gauda, have raised the issue by tweeting to the Jeypore Sub-Collector and District Collector. They have also urged for a stay on the current election process and requested that the election be held only after appropriate corrections are made.