The State BJP has accused the Gariyabandh Collector of assisting Congress candidate Ajit Jogi. The party said that it had made a complaint to the Chief Electoral Officer in this respect, but he did not take any action. It was also alleged that the Chief Electoral Officer too had been showing partiality.
At a press conference on Thursday, the BJP State spokesperson, Shrichand Sundarani, said that former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi has continuously been violating the election model code of conduct. Instead of taking action, Gariabandh Collector, Hemant Pahare, has been assisting him, he added. Sundarani said that Pahare had been the OSD of Jogi. He demanded immediate removal of the Collector.
The BJP State spokesperson alleged that the Collector has been mounting pressure on the employees of tribal, forest and panchayat departments to work in favour of Ajit Jogi. He said that the work style of Jogi had been of fear, terror and of bargaining. It is clear that Ajit Jogi could go to any extent to win the Mahasamund seat.
He said that the BJP candidate from Mahasamund, Chandulal Sahu had made a complaint to the Election Commission, but the Election Commission was not serious in conducting impartial elections in Mahasamund lS seat. Sundarani said that only Ajit Jogi could tell about the sudden surfacing of 10 Chandulals in Mahasamund. He also put a question mark on the impartiality of the Chief Electoral Officer.