Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Tuesday lodged a complaint with the chief electoral officer (CEO) against the appointment of Himansu Lal as Inspector General of Police, Southwestern Range covering Nuapada district.
A memorandum submitted to CEO RS Gopalan by a delegation of the BJD leaders claimed that the appointment of Lal is a potential threat to free and fair conduct of by-election to Nuapada Assembly constituency slated to be held on November 11.
The opposition party leaders alleged that Lal, during his earlier posting as Inspector General of Police, Northern Range, Sambalpur, was accused of having misused government machinery to influence voters in favour of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections held in 2024.
“His (Lal’s) conduct during that period had raised serious apprehensions regarding his neutrality and adherence to the directives of the Election Commission of India,” they claimed in the memorandum.
Further, during his tenure as IG, Northern Range, a major communal riot occurred in Sambalpur city, the memorandum claimed.
BJD urged the CEO to revoke the appointment of Lal as IG, Southwestern Range, with immediate effect, and to ensure the deployment of impartial and independent officers in all positions connected with the conduct of the by-election in Nuapada.