Bhubaneswar: The Governing Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has come to the rescue of Government Officials, who became soft targets of Opposition during the election time.
The BJD has been continuously appealing to the Election Commission of India to ensure protection of the Government Servants to ensure a free and fair election.
The BJD today submitted a fresh memorandum to the Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha, Nikunja Bihari Dhal, in this regard.
The ruling party alleged that Odisha BJP leaders and candidates continue to threaten and intimidate Government officials on election duty in Odisha by misusing the name of the Election Commission of India and unleashing threats of transfers and punitive actions against them in the 2024 elections.
“We are thankful to you for having met and heard the Biju Janata Dal delegations which have been repeatedly coming to you with photographic and videographic evidences, providing all details of how Odisha BJP leaders and candidates are threatening and intimidating Government officials on election duty in Odisha by misusing the name of the ECI and unleashing threats it of transfers and punitive actions against them in the 2024 elections,” read the memorandum of the BJD.
Despite the party’s repeated requests to the ECI for its intervention, the Odisha BJP leaders and candidates are not ceasing in these illegal activities, it alleged.
“In the past we have placed how BDOs, Tahsildars, DSPs and IICs were being called and threatened by these Odisha BJP leaders and candidates with transfers and punitive actions by misusing the name of the Commission,” the party leaders said in the petition.
The regional party further alleged that BJP’s Berhampur Lok Sabha candidate Pradeep Panigrahi had threatened Government officials on election duty in Ganjam and Gajapati districts, misusing the name of the ECI to get them transferred or face punitive action.
Similarly, it was alleged that the BJP leaders and candidates have been calling up and threatening and intimidating grass-root women of Odisha working in each Panchayat of Odisha such as ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and leaders of Mission Shakti to either to support them in this election or be prepared to face punitive action further misusing the name of the ECI.
As per the BJD memo, another BJP leader Prasant Jagdev physically assaulted a journalist in the Padayatra of Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi in Jankia, Khurda district and then threatened and intimidated the local Police IIC of Jankia to withdraw the FIR filed by the assaulted journalist or face the consequences of Police Station being gheraoed.
Shri Jagdev allegedly barged in late night at Jankia Police Station and further threatened and intimidated the Jankia PS IIC with transfer and punitive action misusing the name of the ECI, it said.
The party requested the ECI to take strong action against all the leaders of the Odisha BJP who are doing such illegal activities against the Government officials on election duty.
Under the pressures of threats and intimidation, the Government officials cannot carry out their election duties without fear or favour.
The party sought ECI’s intervention to protect Government officials on election duty from such threats and intimidations by the Odisha BJP leaders and candidates.
The BJD delegation led by Rajya Sabha Member Sulata Deo has submitted another memorandum alleging violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by BJP leader and Puri MP Candidate Sambit Patra.
The leaders alleged that Shri Patra and his team distributed clocks adorned with the BJP logo, Lotus symbol, and even his personal photograph to shopkeepers to influence the voters.
