After a week of uncertainty, Sambalpur municipal chairperson Rina Trivedi has lost the no-confidence motion, officially. Counting on Monday revealed that 19 councillors voted against Trivedi while three in favour in the May 7 poll. The outcome of the no-trust vote had been reserved by the High Court after Trivedi filed a writ petition on May 4.
However, the HC on May 11 vacated the stay and paved way for the counting. One vote from among the 20 disgruntled councillors was rejected while four of her party councillors had abstained from voting.
The outcome saw the disgruntled councillors burst crackers and dancing while the councillor of Ward-1, Srinibas Mohapatra tonsured his head terming it as victory over corruption.
Though an attempt was made to dislodge Trivedi on February 9 last year, her mentor and Sambalpur BJP MLA Jayanarayan Mishra managed to bail her out by holding on the BJP councillors together. He had then issued stern warning to Trivedi to mend her ways and take all BJP councillors on board before taking any decision.
However, old habits die hard for Trivedi. Trivedi was gradually isolated. This led Mishra to even part ways with her and he reportedly refused to rescue her.
