‘Naveen Patnaik’s Assurance To Grant District Tag To Padampur Against Poll Code Of Conduct’

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik’s assurance for granting district status to Padampur sub-division by the end of December 2023 is a violation of the election code of conduct, senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra said on Wednesday.

“He may be the BJD president, but he should not forget that he is also the CM of the state. Assurance of grant of district status to Padampur is a violation of the code of conduct,” he said.

The bypoll to the Padampur Assembly constituency is slated for December 5 and the code of conduct bars the party in power from making promises about new projects that may sway voters.

Earlier in the day, members of an action committee, spearheading the demand for carving out Padampur district out of Bargarh, told the media about Naveen Patnaik’s assurance to accord district status to Padampur sub-division by December 31, 2023.

“The discussion was fruitful. Since the model code of conduct is in force, the CM cannot make an announcement in this regard. In his capacity as the BJD president, he assured to include it in the party manifesto,” said a member of the committee, spearheading the demand for carving out Padampur district out of Bargarh.

The committee members said that they would call off the agitation once the BJD mentions the assurance in its election manifesto for the Padampur bypoll.

Also Read: Odisha’s Padampur To Get District Status By December 2023!