The State Election Commission (SEC) on Wednesday directed the Kendrapada district Collector to immediately transfer the Pattamundai BDO in connection with the alleged fraudulent withdrawal of nomination papers of two women Panchayat Samiti Member candidates of Penthapal gram panchayat under Pattamundai block for the upcoming three-tier rural elections.
The commission directed the Panchayati Raj Department to transfer Pattamundai BDO Prashant Rout immediately and hand over the charge of conducting the polls to local Tehsildar Banamali Tarai. However, later in the evening the commission after coming to know that the Tehsildar is the uncle of Kendrapada BJD MlA Kishore Tarai, who is accused of masterminding the conspiracy, handed over the poll charge to Kendrapada Sub-Collector.
The SEC’s directive followed the district Collector’s report on the allegation that the BDO was responsible for the fraudulent withdrawal of the two candidatures to favour MlA Kishore Tarai’s wife to get elected unopposed as the Panchayat Samiti Member.
“We had sought a report from the Kendrapada Collector and the Poll Observer on the allegation of withdrawal of the nominations. The commission also sought additional information from the Collector after receipt of his report. The Collector has been directed to discharge him (the BDO) from poll duties,” SEC Secretary Rabindranath Sahu said.
It was alleged that MlA Kishore Tarai in connivance with the Pattamundai BDO managed to get his wife Babita Tarai elected unopposed as PS Member by fraudulently withdrawing the nominations of the two other candidates, Pramila Mallick and Gayatri Sethy on the last day of withdrawal of nominations.
Both Mallick and Sethy have lodged written complaints against the MlA and the BDO with police in this connection.
Meanwhile, opposition BJP and Congress party demanded before the district
Collector-cum-Election Officer to file criminal case against the BDO.