Subhashree Panda
Subhashree Panda is an Indian politician and social activist from the state of Odisha. She is a member of the Indian National Congress and has contested elections for the Odisha Legislative Assembly from the Ranpur constituency.
She gained significant media attention in the early 2010s due to her marriage to Sabyasachi Panda and her subsequent acquittal in legal cases related to internal security issues in Odisha.
Early life and education
Subhashree Panda was born in Nimapara, Odisha. She completed her schooling at IBR Government Girls High School and later attended Nimapara College. She holds a law degree from Ganjam Law College.Activism and legal history
In 2010, Panda was arrested by the Odisha Police on charges related to unlawful activities. Her release became a central point of negotiation during the 2012 Italian hostage crisis in Odisha, where abductors demanded her release.On 10 April 2012, the Gunupur Additional District Judge acquitted her in a shootout case due to lack of evidence. She had previously been acquitted by the Orissa High Court in September 2011 regarding a separate case under the Unlawful Activities Act. Following her acquittal, she publicly disavowed violence and stated her intention to work for social causes through democratic means.
Political career
Panda entered mainstream politics in 2014, joining the Ama Odisha Party founded by Soumya Ranjan Patnaik. She contested the 2014 [Odisha Legislative Assembly election] for the Ranpur seat in Nayagarh district. In her campaign, she identified herself as a social activist and stated that contesting the election was her individual choice to serve the people.In the 2019 Odisha [Legislative Assembly election], she contested the Ranpur seat again, this time as a candidate for the Indian National Congress.