BJP’s Central Leaders Move Election Commission Against Odisha’s Mission Shakti Head

Bhubaneswar: The Central leaders of BJP have moved the Election Commission of India (ECI) against Odisha’s Mission Shakti secretary Sujata R Karthikeyan for allegedly misusing her authority for electoral gains of BJD.

The BJP leaders including Nirmala Sitharaman, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Sudhanshu Trivedi and Om Pathak submitted a complaint with the Commission alleging that the secretary was misusing her position, government machinery and manpower to garner support for the ruling party in the state.

They pointed out that Sujata R Karthikeyan, who head the Mission Shakti scheme of the government, have been trying to influence around 70,000 women members of the programme by misusing the SVEEP of the Election Commission.

“The Commission had launched systematic voters education and electoral participation (SVEEP) to promote awareness about election and exercising the franchise. But the IAS officer has been using it to influence the voters and threatening the Mission Shakti members of stopping the government facilities if they did not support the BJD,” the BJP leaders alleged.

Stating that it was gross violation of the model code of conduct, they demanded her removal from her  post and keeping her away from all government-related works.