BJP State president KV Singh Deo has reiterated his charge that the State Election Commission (SEC) is working as an agent of the ruling BJD. While the BJD is being ungrudgingly permitted to use school and college grounds to hold election meetings, such permission being deliberately denied to Opposition parties, he alleged.
Singh Deo was addressing a BJP rally here on Saturday to garner support for party candidates for the September 19 elections to the Brahmapur Municipal Corporation.
Referring to the Chikiti NAC in Ganjam district, he said democracy was virtually murdered in this urban centre. Candidates of opposition parties were brutally assaulted while going to file their nominations and the district administration remained a silent spectator and, on the other hand, gave reports on the incidents favouring the ruling party, he said.
Citing an example of the “partisan” attitude of the SEC and the Ganjam district administration, Singh Deo said that two days back the BJP had applied for permission to hold meetings at Ganjam town and Rambha, but the Sub-Collector left for Polasara on the pretext of law and order situation there without considering the BJP’s applications.
Singh Deo said the BJP would continue to fight for an early completion of the Chelligada project to solve the drinking water problem for the denizens of Brahmapur and to promote farmers’ interest.
Veteran BJP leader, former Assembly Deputy Speaker Rama Chandra Panda said there is a mafia raj in Berhampur where antisocials are patronised and the civil society is in panic. The Rushikulya-Mahanadi river link project is deliberately not being implemented by the State Government to solve the deepening drinking water crisis in Brahmapur.
On Saturday, Singh Deo and Rama Chandra Panda visited Rambha, Ganjam town and Chhatrapur to campaign for party candidates in these NACs. As antisocials are planning to rig election in several booths in the BMC and Chhatrapur NAC, the district administration should take steps to create a congenial atmosphere for smooth conduct of the elections, he said.