Decrying Finance Minister Prasanna Acharya’s threat to deny funds to the areas which don’t vote for the ruling BJD in Friday’s UlB elections in western Odisha as “unconstitutional” and “malafide”, the State Congress on Thursday demanded setting aside of the entire election process or the sacking of the Minister.
Acharya’s statement was a gross violation of the model code of conduct in force for the elections, the Congress said.
“The speech of the Hon’ble Finance Minister (was) delivered in the last election meeting so cleverly that other parties had no scope to reply (to) his speech, which is highly unconstitutional, malafide and illegal and violates the code of conduct of the election. The entire election is liable to be set aside or the Minister should be sacked and punishment may be awarded by forwarding the case to a proper court of law under the Indian Penal Code in the interest of justice,” said a Congress memorandum submitted to the State Election Commission (SEC) on Thursday.
It also urged the SEC to immediately initiate proceedings against Acharya as per the election law. Acharya had threatened to choke funds to the areas that don’t vote for the BJD at a meeting at Bargarh last Sunday. “I am Odisha’s Finance Minister. Funds are in my hands. If you vote for Congress, I shall stop release of funds to your area. I have told people everywhere, if you vote for the ‘Hand’ symbol, my treasury is locked for you,” Acharya had said.