BJP Puts Odisha CEO In Dock Over ‘Poll Code Violation’ In BDOs Transfer; Check His Response

Bhubaneswar: Even as BJP attempted to corner the ruling party over the transfer of two block development officers (BDOs) in the bypoll-bound Dhamnagar assembly seat in Odisha’s Bhadrak district, the office of the chief electoral officer (CEO) clarified that their continuance was in violation of the model code of conduct of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The saffron party had questioned the conduct of the Chief Electoral Officer of Odisha (CEO) Sushil Kumar Lohani since the order was passed by Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water department, where he serves as the Principal Secretary. “While as CEO the official has been asking political parties to follow the model code, the same official as panchayati raj secretary is violating the code,” BJP general secretary Lekhashri Samantsinghar told a presser on Thursday. BJP alleged that the transfer of the BDOs was done with a malicious and mischievous intention.

Lohani, however, said that there was no violation of the model code. “The transfer of Dhamnagar BDO Durga Charan Murmu was necessary because he had been posted there since September 5, 2018, and no officer connected with a bypoll can continue for more than three years in that constituency.  Tihidi BDO Basant Kumar Sahani, had to be shifted because he is a native of Bhadrak district of which Dhamnagar assembly segment is a part,” he said.

Their continuation in the post would have violated the model code, he added.