Bhubaneswar: The Odisha BJP on Thursday questioned the Z-scale security cover for BJD leader and 5T Chairman VK Pandian.
A delegation of the BJP lead by former party president Samir Mohanty submitted a petition to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Odisha, demanding withdrawal of the security cover being provided to Pandian by the Special Branch of Odisha Police.
“VK Pandian is a member of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). He is neither an MLA or MP candidate. He also holds no constitutional position and has neither been appointed to any important post in the BJD. On what grounds have the Chief Secretary and Home Secretary provided Z scale security to him?” questioned Mohanty.
The administration is also engaged in making helipads for election campaign programmes of Pandian in various places, in gross violation of the model code of conduct, the saffron party further alleged.
“Pandian’s activities are proving to be an hindrance for free and impartial elections in the state,” it added.
This came a day after journalist Ruben Banerjee shared a Special Branch of Odisha Police notification dated April 21 on X, questioning the Z-category security provided to Pandian along with Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and BJP’s National Vice-President Baijayanta Panda. Besides these three, Y-scale security has been provided to Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal, OPCC president Sarat Pattanayak and Kantabanji MLA Santosh Singh Saluja following the State-Level Security Committee Review meeting held on September 18, 2023, the notification said.
Z security for Pandian by @odisha_police. Pandian given Z security, besides @dpradhanbjp and @PandaJay . Three more given Y category security.
Point to note: only Pandian not contesting elections. The rest are contesting. Here is the copy of the order. @bjd_odisha @BJP4Odisha pic.twitter.com/VxU1cKsrlY— Ruben Banerjee (@Rubenbanerjee) April 24, 2024
The state BJP also accused Seragada Police ASI Krushna Chandra Das of showing favour towards BJD in Hinjili, the Assembly constituency represented by Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik. “The police officer is openly threatening people to book them in a false cases and make them suffer the fate of Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigarahi if they vote for the ruling BJD in the election. The local sarpanchs and zilla parishad members have lodged complaints, but no action has been taken yet against the erring ASI,” the party alleged.
