The State BJP on Sunday slammed State Election Commissioner Ajit Kumar Tripathy for his alleged double standard and ruling BJD-centric attitude in the conduct of the ongoing urban local body (UlB) elections.
Addressing a Press conference here while releasing the party’s manifesto for the UlB elections, BJP State president KV Singh Deo said the role and duty of the SEC is to conduct free and fair elections and not to advise the Government. But in reality, it is the reverse. Citing the fax imbroglio and alleged model code of conduct violation in which the main accused is Minister of Steel and Mines Rajanikant Singh, Singh Deo said that while the Angul district Collector was transferred in connection with this case, no action was taken against the Minister.
The Minister of Steel and Mines had faxed a list containing the names of BJD candidates from his office chamber at the State Secretariat to the Angul Collector, Singh Deo pointed out and added that the BJP was first to draw the attention of the State Election Commission demanding action against the Minister and the Collector. But while the Collector was transferred, the Minister was spared, Singh Deo rued.
He said the SEC, instead of taking action against the Minister, advised him to file an FIR with the police station or refer the issue to any State investigating agency for probe. Deo further alleged that despite several petitions to the SEC on the use of Government machinery and muscle power by the BJD, the SEC has not shown any interest to discharge his duty and take any action. The BJD is using the SEC to influence the elections in its favour and the SEC seemed complying with the euling party’s scheme, he said.