1st Phase Panchayat Polls: BJD, BJP, Cong Trade Charges On Violent Incidents In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: With four more phases of panchayat elections ahead, three major parties in the state – BJD, BJP and Congress – have switched gear to hurling accusations at each other of resorting to violence and money power to win the rural polls.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, state president of BJP Samir Mohanty targeted chief minister Naveen Patnaik for the violent incidents that took place in the first phase polling on Wednesday.

Stating that the chief minister has failed in his assurance of ensuring a free and fair elections, he demanded Naveen to own up the violence unleashed by his party.

“The BJD workers have direct involvement in violent incidents in Pipili, Dharmasala, Jajpur, Brahmagiri, Angul, Hindol, Bhadrak, Kanas, Nayagarh, Jaleswar, Bangiriposi, Bhatli, Patnagarh, Balangir, Kandhamal and Jharsuguda,” Mohanty said.

He alleged that due to the threat of the ruling party activists, the voters are afraid of going to polling votes to exercise their franchise. The polling booths in many places are under seize of the BJD workers, he added.

On the other hand, BJD MP Sasmit Patra has blamed the BJP for the violence in the panchayat polls. Stating that BJD has been following the path of non-violence, he said his party has always believed in peace and peaceful administration for development of the state.

Citing the instances of BJP’s involvement in violence, Patra said its senior leader Jayanaryan Mishra and Yuva Morcha president were sent to jail for the attack on the brother of minister Sushant Singh during Bijepur by-election.

Besides, the BJP is connected to the violent attack on BJD candidate in Pipili and Gosani sarpanch nominee, he added.

“Since the BJP has realised the miserable defeat it would face in the panchayat elections as evident from the first phase polling, it has started playing its old record of accusing the ruling BJD on all fronts,” the MP said.

Not to be left behind in the trading of charges, Jatni MLA of Congress Suresh Routray told the media that both BJD and BJP were involved in the poll related violence and spending money to purchase the voters.

Stating that both parties were using their ill-gotten money from the people and trying to influence the voters, Routray said there was a bidding competition between the two. “If one party is giving Rs 2,000 for one vote, another is offering Rs 2,5000. I feel ashamed to see the level of politics these parties have stooped down to win the elections,” he said.