Odisha Bypoll: BJD Petitions CEO Not To Allow NCST Member’s Meeting In Jharsuguda

 Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday petitioned Odisha’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) seeking postponement of a proposed meeting of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes member Anant Nayak in Jharsuguda, saying it will violate the model code of conduct which is in force for the May 10 bypoll.

A delegation of the ruling BJD visited the office of the CEO and submitted a petition, stating that election model code of conduct is in force in Jharsuguda for the forthcoming Assembly bypoll.

As per reliable sources, NCST member Anant Nayak is going to visit Jharsuguda for a meeting and some programme, the BJD memorandum said, adding that Nayak has been a BJP leader in the past and was elected as MP from Keonjhar.

Stating that Nayak is now holding a constitutional position as NCST member, it said there is no justification for him to hold such a meeting in Jharsuguda, especially with the election model code of conduct in force.

“If he (Nayak) does so, it would be construed as being a violation of the election model code of conduct,” it said, urging the CEO not to provide any permission to Nayak to hold any meeting in Jharsuguda ahead of the by-election.

The petition was signed among others by party spokesperson Lenin Mohanty, Madhusmita Nayak, Lora Mohapatra and Swagatika Mohanty.