Members of the Utkal Bharat party led by its president Kharabela Swain on Wednesday went in a procession and submitted a memorandum to the State Election Commission (SEC) on alleged violation of the code of conduct during the recent panchayat elections by the major political parties, BJD, BJP and Congress.
In the memorandum the party stated that former BJD Minister Sharada Nayak was caught on camera while distributing cash to the voters of Jhiripani in Sundargarh district. In another incident, Nayak was also caught in Jalda panchayat of Gurundia block in the district while distributing cash, blankets, alcohol and umbrellas printed with the party symbol of BJD to the voters.
Former BJD MlA of Remuna of Baleswar district Sudarshan Jena was also caught on the spot while distributing cash and sarees in Saraswatipur panchayat and was manhandled by the people, the party stated.
Similarly, from the vehicles of Chhattisgarh BJP leaders lokesh Kawadia and Champadei Rs 2 lakh was detected in Thuamul Rampur block of Kalahandi district. The Congress workers had caught them while distributing the money. Former BJP president of Papadahandi in Nabarangpur district Jhadeswar Khadanga was caught with a vehicle of Chhattisgarh along with Rs 1 lakh .
BJP Ganjam district president Bijay Kumar Swain was caught with cash at Sanakhemundi. Former BJP Mayor of Jagdalpur in Chhattishgarh Kiran Singh Deo was caught along with gunmen at Raygada.
Brother of former Congress MlA Santosh Singh Saluja, Bariyam Singh Saluja was caught by police at Sindhikela with liquor and cash of Rs.1.04 lakhs. On the other hand, the Congress repeatedly claimed that this party lost the election due to scarcity of funds for election management, the party said.
The Utkal Bharat urged the SEC to punish these parties at the quickest in the offence of having violated the model codes of conduct.