Panchayat Polls: Odisha Cong Demands Arrest Of Ex-BJD Minister For Using Religion To Influence Voters

Bhubaneswar: The Congress on Wednesday demanded arrest of former minister Rabi Narayan Nanda for influencing the tribal voters in the name of Lord Jagannath.

Speaking to media persons, here, Congress spokesman Manoj Mohapatra said the former minister, in an election meeting in Jeypore of Koraput district, told the people that chief minister Naveen Patnaik had visited Jagannath temple in Puri and brought the offering to the Lords.

The Congress alleged that Nanda also told the people to take a pledge in the name of the Lord’s offering, sent by the chief minister, to vote for BJD in the panchayat elections. Mohapatra claimed that the party has a video recording of the address of the former MLA of Jeypore.

Stating that Nanda was influencing the innocent tribals in the name of religion to garner their votes and spreading rumour about the chief minister, Mohapatra demanded the state government to file a criminal case and arrest the former minister.

Violation of poll code by BJD

Meanwhile, a four-member delegation of the Congress, led by OPCC vice-president Jagneswar Babu, submitted a memorandum to State Election Commission, accusing the BJD of threatening the party workers in Jharsuguda district.

The delegation alleged that a section of BJD workers under the direction of some influential leaders of the party have created an atmosphere of fear by scolding and threatening the Congress leaders and supporters during campaign for panchayat polls.

They pointed out that the ruling party activists had adopted a violent approach particularly in Rajpur I zone in Jharsuguda and Brajrajnagar zilla parishad areas.

Stating that the BJD leaders had violated the poll code of conduct during the campaign, the Congress delegates sought the intervention of the SEC to ensure free and fair elections.