The BJP on Thursday urged the Election Commission to remove Jajpur district Collector Anil Samal alleging that he campaigned openly for the ruling BJD. The party submitted a complaint to State Chief Electoral Officer Mona Sharma to this effect. Addressing a Press conference here, BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma alleged that Samal has been acting as the head of the BJD Party functionaries in the district.
Sharma said the Collector was taking part in the day-to-day activities of Pranab Balabantaray, son of Panchayatiraj Minister and BJD vice-president Kalpataru Das. The Collectors is also allegedly mobilising funds for the BJD from the industrialists and asking the Government employees, including teachers, Anganwadi workers and block staffs, under him to work in favour of the ruling party candidates, Sharma alleged. Earlier, Sharma said the BJD candidate for the Binjharpur Assembly seat Pramila Mallik was seen campaigning with posters carrying the photograph of Collector Samal. He further demanded that the commission keep a close surveillance on Samal’s activities and verify the call records of his mobile phones from the date of the announcement of the election schedule. “Samal should be removed from the election duty immediately to ensure free and fair elections,” Sharma said. Meanwhile, one Satyaswarup Mohanty of Phulnakhara, Cuttack, on Thursday also lodged a complaint with the CEO against the ruling BJD and the Congress alleging that the two parties violated model code of conduct by publishing advertisements with photographs of their leaders and candidates in an Odia daily on Wednesday.
Referring the notice served on BJP following a complaint lodged by BJD for publishing similar advertisements, Sharma said the CEO should also take congnizance of Mohanty’s allegation.