The ruling BJD’s 18th Foundation Day celebration here on Thursday triggered controversies over use of posters, banners and hoardings as the poll code of conduct is in force in the city. Many political parties including the Oppositions Congress and BJP have objected to the use of big hoardings, posters and banners showing BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s images in the city.
When the election code of conduct is in force for the BMC polls, how come the ruling party will use CM Naveen Patnik’s images, asked some senior Congress and BJP
leaders. They too submitted separate memorandums to the State Election Commission (SEC) seeking action against the BJD supremo for violating model code of conduct enforced for January 8 Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls.
On behalf of Congress Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Utkal Keshari Routray and Bhubaneswar district Congress president Manoranjan Dash submitted the memorandum.
“In the name of foundation day celebration, thousands voters of the corporation were brought to the celebration venue at BJD headquarters by using a number of vehicles. Flags, posters, banners, hoardings were placed in front of many Government offices such as Secretariat, PMG office, Assembly, BDA, Housing Board, BMC in huge manner,” the memorandum stated. “The meeting was pre-planned by BJD to influence the voters which lead to malafide intentions,” the memorandum alleged.
The BJP too levelled similar allegations against the BJD in its memorandum. Installing of big hoardings, banners and posters having Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s image across the city violated the poll conduct, it alleged.
Senior party leader Sameer Mohanty and Ratikant Das among many others met the SEC in this connection.