The BJP on Sunday condemned the blatant misuse of official machinery and officialdom by the ruling BJD for the upcoming urban local body (UlB) elections. It was clearly evident from the manner in which district Collector of Angul Arvind Agrawal was transferred, the party said in a statement.
The State Election Commission (SEC) came down heavily on the matter of the Collector’s office being used for the BJD by Minister of Steel and Mines Rajanikant Singh. The Minister had used his personal office for sending his party communication to the Collector in gross violation of the election code of conduct, the BJP alleged.
Action has been taken against the Collector, but the Minister, who had allegedly sent the communication, has gone scot-free. “It is puzzling that action has been taken against the person who received the fax instead of taking action against Singh,” said the BJP, adding, “It is another example of gross misuse of power by the ruling party.”