The BJP on Saturday urged the State Election Commission (SEC) to ensure a free and fair election in the Ranpur NAC on May 5 while alleging that the ruling BJD is adopting unfair means to woo voters. In letter to State Election Commissioner RN Senapati, BJP leaders Sameer Mohanty, Sajjan Kumar Sharma, Purna Chandra Mallick and lekhashree Samantsinghar alleged that BJD on Friday requested locals SHG members to vote for BJD candidates at a meeting convened for discussion on their loan applications.
Energy Minister Pranab Kumar Das, BJD leaders Pravat Biswal, Pramila Mallick and Niranjan Swain were present at the meeting. They also informed that a scuffle between two groups erupted as some SHG members objected to the discussion. Further informing that the ADM did not respond to their calls, the BJP leaders said, “We demand that local Tehsildar be immediately transferred and ADM be issued a show-cause notice as to why he did not respond immediately. The Energy Minister and others, who attended the meeting be asked to immediately vacate the Ranapur NAC area.”