Bhubaneswar: In yet another complaint before Odisha’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Sunday accused Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for Sambalpur Assembly seat Jayanarayan Mishra of using children in poll campaign.
A delegation of the ruling BJD visited the office of the CEO in Bhubaneswar and submitted a petition alleging that Mishra used children during an election meeting at Sambalpur BJP office on Saturday afternoon.
“Sambalpur MLA candidate Jayanarayan Mishra brought in children for this meeting to fill the chairs as people did not come to the election meeting,” BJD claimed in its petition.
Claiming that the children were made to sit in the sweltering heat, BJD leaders said this is a gross violation of the model code of conduct which prohibits children from being used in any manner in the election campaigning, meetings or any poll-related activity.
Stating that similar complaints were made by the ruling party against BJP leaders, they said that saffron party leaders and candidates seem to flouting the model code of conduct during campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the state.
The ruling BJD demanded stern action against Mishra and other involved in bringing children to election meeting and endangering their lives in the heat with temperature hovering around 45 degree Celsius.
