The war of words between the BJD and the BJP over alleged use of money power and administrative machinery during the panchayat elections also continued on Monday.
BJD spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb claimed that his party’ allegation against the BJP bringing money from neighbouring Chhattisgarh for distribution to woo voters in their favour has been proved.
“Following the seizure of two vehicles bearing Chhattisgarh numbers in Thuamula Rampur in Kalahandi and Papdahandi in Nabarangpur along with cash today proved that our apprehension of use of money was true,” Deb told reporters here.
Countering Deb, BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma hit back questioning whether the Chhattisgarh Government had given money to BJD leader Sarada Nayak, who was caught red-handed distributing money in his Sundargarh district on Monday.
In another development, a team of the BJP led by Sharma met State Election Commissioner (SEC) Rabi Narayan Senapaty urging him to ask BJD vice-president Surjya Narayan Patro to clarify his claim that the BJD would form 26 Zilla Parishads.
“The polls are yet to be over and the results are still not known. How could Surjya Narayan Patro know that the BJD will form 26 ZPsIJ It raises many questions,” said Sharma.
“We urged the SEC to ask Patro to clarify his projection on forming 26 ZPs,” Sharma told reporters.