Bhubaneswar: The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Sunday moved Odisha’e Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) alleging that a TV channel teams and two BJP leaders were distributing money among voters to get their support in Padampur Assembly bypoll.
Two BJD delegations visited CEO’s office and submitted separate petitions to lodge their complaint. In one of the petitions, BJD alleged that a TV channel has deployed 40 to 45 teams in Padampur for transporting and distributing money to voters and asking them to vote for BJP candidate Pradip Purohit.
It alleged that the channel teams are distributing money to influence voters in many places including Simanpur, Barikel, Padampur block, Kansada and Paikamal block ahead of the bypoll slated to be held on Monday
Demanding a thorough probe into the matter, BJD said the teams of the TV channel should be reduced to a bare minimum in light of these ‘illegal’ activities.
In another petition, BJD accused BJP leader Rajesh Kumar Sahu and his party’s Tapan Suna of distributing money to voters in Padampur to influence them, and demanded action against them.
It further alleged that Sabu, who owns a gas agency in Padampur, has given a cheque for Rs one lakh to villagers in Barikel apart from distributing money to garner support for BJP.
Similarly, Suna has also been distributing money to influence voters and get their support for Pradip Purohit, it alleged and demanded strict and immediate action against both Sahu and Suna.
