Odisha Bypoll: BJD Petitions CEO Seeking Ban On Campaign By 3 BJP Leaders In Padampur

Bhubaneswar: The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Tuesday moved Odisha’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and demanded a ban on campaigning by three BJP leaders for Padampur Assembly by-election, accusing them of indulging in violence.

Submitting a petition to the CEO, a BJD delegation demanded that BJP leaders Thakur Ranjit Das, Pinky Pradhan and Kalindi Samal be banned from campaigning for the bypoll and asked to leave Padampur Assembly constituency in Bargarh district.

The ruling BJD in its petition alleged that when a GST raid was being carried out in Padampur on Monday evening, BJP leaders and hundreds of their workers tried to obstruct the search operation and launched physical attack and verbal assault.

The BJP leaders also damaged a government vehicle as their party has turned violent fearing defeat in Padampur by-election, BJD claimed.

While attacking GST officials, BJP leaders and workers obstructed them from discharging their duty, it alleged, adding that when the GST team was leaving the premises, BJP leaders chased a woman official and attacked her.

The ruling BJD leaders said that a copy of FIR filed by the unit of the CT and GST department against BJP leaders and supporters was also attached with the petition submitted to the CEO.