Bhubaneswar: The BJD on Friday claimed that former Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda has cheated the people of his constituency.
Briefing the media here, BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra said that a complaint was lodged against him by the people of Kendrapara in March 2018. On the basis of this complaint, a criminal case was filed against Baijayant for violating the Representation of People’s Act (RPA), 1951, by filing a false election affidavit in the 2014 elections, wherein he had deliberately suppressed his role in and compensation from his family business, which has now been proven from his affidavit filed for the 2019 elections.
“In the 2014 election affidavit, under the section of profession or occupation, Baijayant had mentioned about himself as sitting MP of Lok Sabha. But there is no mention about his business interests and role as vice-chairman of a mining company, IMFA. However, taking note of the complaint and condemnation of the wilful suppression of his role in compensation from his family’s business, he was forced to mention it in his 2019 election manifesto,” Patra said.
He further said that in his affidavit for the 2019 elections, Baijayant mentioned about his appointment as vice-chairman of IMFA for a period of three years from October 28, 2018, with a monthly remuneration of Rs 17 lakh (which amounts to more than Rs 2 crore annually), pre-requisites and managerial commission. Besides, as per the annual report of 2013-14 and 2014-15 of IMFA, he has mentioned himself as the vice-chairman of IMFA, drawing an annual salary of 1.04 crore.
“This clearly proves that Baijayant had cheated the people of Kendrapada. Since he is again contesting from this Lok Sabha seat, the people will now question this breach of trust in 2014,” Patra pointed out.
