Kendrapara Battle Hots Up As BJD, BJP Trade Charges

Bhubaneswar: A day ahead of polling in Kendrapara Lok Sabha constituency, the BJD and the BJP on Sunday engaged in a blame game, accusing each other of violating the model code of conduct.

The BJD filed a petition with Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Surendra Kumar, demanding immediate action against Jyoti Ghosh, election agent and a close associate of BJP MP candidate Baijayant Panda, and regional news channel OTV (owned by Panda’s family) for allegedly spreading false news against its MP candidate Anubhav Mohanty with an intention to defame him.

The BJP, in turn, alleged that several BJD leaders hailing from outside Kendrapara constituency were camping and distributing illicit cash to gain over the voters. The poll code stipulates that those who are not voters should leave the constituency 48 hours before polling but several BJD ministers, MLAs and youth activists are contravening the provisions, it said and demanded the CEO to oust them from the constituency.

On Saturday, the BJD wrote to the CEO alleging “distribution of cash among voters” by four associates of Baijayant. The party has asked the Election Commission to take “strict and immediate” action. It suggested placing the four associates and their cellphones under surveillance or even removing them from Kendrapara Lok Sabha constituency.