Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday accused BJP of indulging in hooliganism fearing defeat in Dhamnagar bypoll, and urged Odisha’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to take exemplary action against ‘perpetrators’ of violence.
A delegation of the ruling BJD met CEO S K Lohani in his office in Bhubaneswar and submitted a memorandum alleging that fear of a massive defeat in the November 3 by-election to the Assembly seat is driving BJP to indulge in large scale hooliganism in the constituency in Bhadrak district.
The memorandum alleged that a villager was heckled, threatened and physically assaulted by a group of BJP workers in Karada gram panchayat area of the constituency when he was on his way to a relative’s house on Sunday.
In order to hide their illegal act, BJP cadres have started indulging in hooliganism and making false allegations against the man that he was engaged in electoral irregularities, it claimed.
Apprehending imminent defeat in the bypoll, BJP is indulging in large scale hooliganism on day to day basis out of desperation and frustration, it claimed.
“We strongly demand that strong and exemplary action be taken against the Odisha BJP perpetrators of violence against the citizens in Karada gram panchayat in Dhamnagar block,” the BJD said in its memorandum.
Unless strict action is taken against them, free and fair election will not be possible in Dhamnagar, it added.
