Dhamnagar bypoll: BJP slams Odisha’s Chief Electoral Officer, strikes ECI over MCC violation
6 min read
By PTI
NEW DELHI/ BHUBANESHWAR: Opposition BJP on Wednesday got here down closely on Odisha’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S Ok Lohani even because the official claimed that motion was taken within the alleged ‘cash-for-vote’ allegation that emerged throughout campaigning for the Dhamnagar meeting by-poll.
The Odisha unit of the BJP had earlier alleged that the ruling BJD was utilizing SHGs members to distribute money among the many voters.
A BJP delegation led by Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan met high Election Commission of India (ECI) officers in New Delhi throughout the day and lodged a proper criticism towards the BJD, accusing the ruling social gathering in Odisha of violating the mannequin code of conduct within the run-up to the by-poll.
Pradhan, together with the BJP’s media co-in-charge Sanjay Mayukh, social gathering spokesperson Sambit Patra and Om Pathak, met ballot panel officers and submitted separate memoranda towards the BJD authorities and TRS authorities, citing situations of violation of the mannequin code of conduct.
“We have come to knock the doors of the ECI after failing to get justice from Odisha’s CEO. Though our party had drawn the attention of the CEO several times, no action was taken. Therefore, we have come to ECI,” Pradhan mentioned in a press release alleging that the CEO was not directly encouraging the officers engaged in election duties to distribute cash on behalf of the ruling BJD.
“The Bhadrak administration under the leadership of the district collector is hand-in-glove with the ruling party. They are helping the BJD in breaching the MCC,” Pradhan mentioned alleging that the staff of the panchayati raj, rural growth and girls and youngster growth departments have been inspired to work for the ruling BJD.
The Union minister additionally raised the problem of “conflict of interest” linked to CEO Lohani, who can also be the principal secretary of the Panchayati Raj Department.
Pradhan mentioned the CEO mentioned that forensic probe has been launched in alleged cash-for-vote incidents.
“The CEO himself is the secretary of the Panchayati Raj Department. So, I doubt his intentions. There is a conflict of interest. So, we took the matter to the ECI,” Pradhan mentioned.
Similarly, the BJP mentioned, “the ruling TRS has also been continuously violating electoral laws for bypolls in Munugode assembly segment in Telangana.”
“It seems not the TRS but the state government is contesting election against the BJP in Munugode as the entire state machinery has been deployed and it is a gross violation of electoral laws,” Pathak instructed reporters after the assembly.
He additionally alleged that TRS MLAs and MPs “have been rampantly distributing alcohol and money to the voters.”
Meanwhile, addressing a press convention, Lohani mentioned, “We have identified the accused person in the video found in cash distribution case. After identification, we have lodged an FIR within 24 hours.”
Apart from the money distribution allegations, there was one other purported video a few BJD employee saying in a celebration assembly that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will give Rs 1 crore to each panchayat in Dhamnagar that votes for the BJD.
PTI has not independently confirm the authenticity of the movies.
On the viral video, Lohani mentioned, “We have also identified the person who was promising Rs 1 crore for votes. Complaints have been registered under several sections of the Indian Penal Code and Representation of People Act 1951.”
“All remedial actions are being taken by the CEO office as quickly as possible to ensure free and fair elections,” Lohani mentioned.
Meanwhile, Congress chief and Jatani MLA Suresh Routray alleged that state ministers have been shifting across the Dhamnagar constituency with luggage full of money.
He alleged that block and district-level authorities officers have been additionally influencing voters in assist of the BJD.
The BJD additionally submitted a petition to the CEO workplace alleging that the BJP has insulted the members of the ladies self-help teams by dragging them into the alleged cash-for-vote concern.
“The BJP is levelling allegations against women SHGs after realising that its candidate will lose the polls,” BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty mentioned.
Bypolls to Dhamnagar meeting seat in Odisha and Munugode meeting seat in Telangana are scheduled to be held on November 3.
NEW DELHI/ BHUBANESHWAR: Opposition BJP on Wednesday got here down closely on Odisha’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S Ok Lohani even because the official claimed that motion was taken within the alleged ‘cash-for-vote’ allegation that emerged throughout campaigning for the Dhamnagar meeting by-poll.
The Odisha unit of the BJP had earlier alleged that the ruling BJD was utilizing SHGs members to distribute money among the many voters.
A BJP delegation led by Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan met high Election Commission of India (ECI) officers in New Delhi throughout the day and lodged a proper criticism towards the BJD, accusing the ruling social gathering in Odisha of violating the mannequin code of conduct within the run-up to the by-poll.
Pradhan, together with the BJP’s media co-in-charge Sanjay Mayukh, social gathering spokesperson Sambit Patra and Om Pathak, met ballot panel officers and submitted separate memoranda towards the BJD authorities and TRS authorities, citing situations of violation of the mannequin code of conduct.
“We have come to knock the doors of the ECI after failing to get justice from Odisha’s CEO. Though our party had drawn the attention of the CEO several times, no action was taken. Therefore, we have come to ECI,” Pradhan mentioned in a press release alleging that the CEO was not directly encouraging the officers engaged in election duties to distribute cash on behalf of the ruling BJD.
“The Bhadrak administration under the leadership of the district collector is hand-in-glove with the ruling party. They are helping the BJD in breaching the MCC,” Pradhan mentioned alleging that the staff of the panchayati raj, rural growth and girls and youngster growth departments have been inspired to work for the ruling BJD.
The Union minister additionally raised the problem of “conflict of interest” linked to CEO Lohani, who can also be the principal secretary of the Panchayati Raj Department.
Pradhan mentioned the CEO mentioned that forensic probe has been launched in alleged cash-for-vote incidents.
“The CEO himself is the secretary of the Panchayati Raj Department. So, I doubt his intentions. There is a conflict of interest. So, we took the matter to the ECI,” Pradhan mentioned.
Similarly, the BJP mentioned, “the ruling TRS has also been continuously violating electoral laws for bypolls in Munugode assembly segment in Telangana.”
“It seems not the TRS but the state government is contesting election against the BJP in Munugode as the entire state machinery has been deployed and it is a gross violation of electoral laws,” Pathak instructed reporters after the assembly.
He additionally alleged that TRS MLAs and MPs “have been rampantly distributing alcohol and money to the voters.”
Meanwhile, addressing a press convention, Lohani mentioned, “We have identified the accused person in the video found in cash distribution case. After identification, we have lodged an FIR within 24 hours.”
Apart from the money distribution allegations, there was one other purported video a few BJD employee saying in a celebration assembly that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will give Rs 1 crore to each panchayat in Dhamnagar that votes for the BJD.
PTI has not independently confirm the authenticity of the movies.
On the viral video, Lohani mentioned, “We have also identified the person who was promising Rs 1 crore for votes. Complaints have been registered under several sections of the Indian Penal Code and Representation of People Act 1951.”
“All remedial actions are being taken by the CEO office as quickly as possible to ensure free and fair elections,” Lohani mentioned.
Meanwhile, Congress chief and Jatani MLA Suresh Routray alleged that state ministers have been shifting across the Dhamnagar constituency with luggage full of money.
He alleged that block and district-level authorities officers have been additionally influencing voters in assist of the BJD.
The BJD additionally submitted a petition to the CEO workplace alleging that the BJP has insulted the members of the ladies self-help teams by dragging them into the alleged cash-for-vote concern.
“The BJP is levelling allegations against women SHGs after realising that its candidate will lose the polls,” BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty mentioned.
Bypolls to Dhamnagar meeting seat in Odisha and Munugode meeting seat in Telangana are scheduled to be held on November 3.
