Odisha BJP Demands CEO Action Against BJD For Engaging SHG Members In Poll Campaign

Bhubaneswar: Odisha unit of BJP has sought action by chief electoral officer (CEO) against BJD for engaging the members of women SHGs in the campaign of its candidates in the ensuing simultaneous elections.

A team of BJP leaders, led by cultural cell coordinator of the party Pinki Pradhan, submitted a complaint against the BJD with evidence for violating model code of conduct on Tuesday.

Speaking to the mediapersons later, Pradhan said though the SHGs were formed to provide social and economic empowerment to the women, the BJD was using them to strengthen its vote bank. “Some members of the SHGs have been misled by the ruling party with allurements to campaign for its candidates. Besides, some women members of the party in the guise of Mission Shakti Book-Keeper (MBK) and Community Resource Person (CRP) were presenting wrong data to the targeted women to convince them to vote for BJD,” she said.

The BJD is also diverting the money provided by the Central government under Community Investment Fund (CIF) for training of SHG members towards making false propaganda of the BJD, Pradhan alleged.

Citing instances to support her allegation, the BJP leader said an audio recording of MBK Nirupama Nayak of Khaira block in Balasore district telling the women to vote for BJD has been uploaded in the social media.

Stating that similar complaints have been filed against Manasi Padhi, the block level federation (BLF) leader of Chandbali and Sanjukta Satpathy, the BLF of Rajkanika block in Kendrapada district, Pradhan said the party has submitted evidence in this regard.

The BJP team demanded immediate action by the CEO to prevent the BJD from such activities which flouted model code of conduct and ensure free and fair elections in the state.