The BJP on Sunday said deferring panchayat elections in Malkangiri district’s Chitrakonda area clearly indicates breakdown of law and order in the State.
“While on one hand the DGP assures to provide tight security everywhere during panchayat polls, on the other he recommended the State Election Commission to put on hold the polls in Chitrakonda area. This indicates that there is a sheer breakdown of law and order in the State,” said BJP vice-president Sameer Mohanty.
He said the SEC announced poll dates after all district Collectors and SPs, including of Malkangiri, had ensured that the law and order situation was conducive. “Basing on the Collector’s and SP’s assurances, many candidates filed nominations in the Chitrakonda area despite threat from Maoists. But the State Government showed cowardice attitude in the end,” alleged Mohanty.
Alleging that a lot of Government money was unnecessarily spent towards travelling of officers, Moanty wanted to know when polls can be conducted in terrorists-hit Jammu and Kashmir then why election can’t be held in Malkangiri.