Odisha BJP Threatens To Move SC Against BJD For Using Party Symbol In Govt Campaign

Bhubaneswar: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded ban on use of BJD symbol ‘conch’ in schemes and programmes of Odisha government.

Speaking to media persons in Bhubaneswar on Saturday, BJP leader Jatin Mohanty said his party has already taken up the matter with the the Election Commission of India. If necessary, the party would approach the Supreme Court to prevent the BJD from using its symbol on government schemes, he added.

He said the state government was spending hundreds of crores of rupees in advertisement of its schemes in the media. At the same time, the government was using the BJD symbol in those advertisements as a political campaign. It is not only unethical but also violates the election code of conduct, he added.

Mohanty further said the BJP was waiting for the reply of the Election Commission to the objection submitted by a delegation of the party against the BJD on November 10. “If we do not get satisfactory reply from the Commission, we would knock the doors of the Supreme Court,” he said.