He fought the assembly election in April this year from jail and was elected, defeating senior congress leader Ajaynti Pradhan. He represents G Udaygiri constituency in Kandhamal district in the assembly.

'The legislator currently in judicial custody has to face trial in at least 13 more cases,' Panda said.

Kandhamal district, about 200 km from here, witnessed widespread violence after the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his aides at his ashram Aug 23 last year.