The Kandhamal district Collector-cum-Returning Officer for the October 15 bypoll in the Kandhamal lok Sabha seat issued a show-cause notice to BJD candidate Pratyusha Rajeswari Singh for allegedly violating the election code. Singh was told to file her response at the earliest.
This is the second time the ruling party was accused of violating the model code of conduct. Earlier, Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak had been charged with the offence.
The show cause was issued after BJP alleged that the ruling party had held a poll meeting at the aerodrome field in Phulbani without having necessary permission from the district administration. The meeting was attended by Transport and Commerce Minister Ramesh Majhi, BJD MlA Pramila Mallick and former MlA Debendra Kanhar, besides several other leaders of the party. The BJP accused the BJD of adopting unfair means and methods to win the elections.
“The BJD has neither any regards for the rule of the land nor has it any knowledge of it. It knows and uses every trick to win elections by hook or crook,” said BJP candidate for the seat Rudra Madhab Ray.
Ray, who was elected a BJD MP from Kandhamal in the 2009 elections, was denied a BJD ticket in the last elections and was suspended from party for ‘anti-party activities’ during the 2014 polls. He joined the BJP on September 21 this year.
The BJD, on the other hand, has refuted the allegations saying it was not a party meeting. “It was by no means a party meeting. There were neither posters nor any party flags. It was just a family get-together,” said Debendra Kanhar from the BJD.
Rubbishing the charge, Kandhamal district BJD president Saroj Karna said, “The BJD held no poll meeting there. Should we not participate when the general public asks us to take part in a get-togetherIJ I can firmly say there was no poll code violation by the BJD.”
Earlier, an FIR had been lodged at the Phulbani town police station against Health Minister Nayak by BJP district general secretary Debanarayan Pradhan for alleged violation of model code of conduct.
Pradhan had charged that at a meeting held at Kotagarh under Balliguda Assembly constituency on September 30 last, Nayak said the BJD was in power in the State and the Government officials and police who would be conducting the by-poll in Kandhamal were working under the instruction of the party in power (BJD). Hence, the BJD workers did not need to worry about anything and must ensure victory of the party at any cost.