BHUBANESWAR: The BJD on Tuesday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission stating that several BJP and Congress leaders belonging to other constituencies are still campaigning at Umerkote violating the model code of conduct. The BJD alleged that several BJP leaders, including State president Jual Oram, former president Suresh Pujari, vice-president Ashok Sahu, former minister Surama Padhi, senior leaders Golak Mohapatra, Panchanan Rout, several MLAs and leaders of Chhattisgarh were campaigning for the party candidate Dharmu Gond till November 28 late night.Similarly, former Congress MLAs Taraprasad Bahinipati, Ramesh Jena, Bhujbal Majhi and senior leaders, including Narayan Patra, were campaigning in the constituency for party candidate Jeetendra Gond violating the model code.Opposition parties, however, countered the BJD charge by stating that this is the outcome of nervousness of the BJD poll managers as the party is going to lose the polls. In his complaint to the EC, BJD general secretary and Minister of State for Energy Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak alleged that overstaying by BJP and Congress leaders in the constituency is a grievous offence as per the election code of conduct. These leaders not only mislead the voters by utilising money and muscle power, but are also trying to influence the voters, he said.Nayak also alleged that some persons are instrumental in pasting Naxalite posters throughout the constituency to create a fear psychosis among the voters, which will jeopardise the prospects of the BJD candidate. He said last night some miscreants from Chhattisgarh entered Umerkote with money, liquor and arms with instructions from BJP leaders to threaten the innocent tribal voters of Raighar area.Nayak alleged that in spite of the instructions of the EC, the authorities concerned are silent for reasons best known to them and apathetic about the happenings around them.Nayak has urged the EC to take necessary action for upholding the principle of democracy and tenets of free and fair election.BJP spokesman Ashok Sahu, however, alleged that BJD is attributing to others what it is doing itself. He said all the BJP leaders, including those from Chhattisgarh, left the constituency by 5 pm on Monday. On the other hand, the BJD ministers and MLAs are distributing money, blankets and TV sets to the voters to influence them, he added. Sahu alleged that Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Surya Narayan Patro, Panchayatiraj Minister Maheshwar Mohanty, Forest and Environment Minister Debi Prasad Mishra and Deputy Chief Whip Arun Sahu are camping at Jharigaon, adjacent to Umerkote constituency, to direct these covert operations. This is a travesty of the directions of the Election Commission, he said.
Comments
0 comment