Odisha Bypoll: BJP MLA Slaps Police FIR Alleging Attack By BJD Workers; Ruling Party Counters & Moves CEO

Jharsuguda: Amid high voltage campaign for Jharsuguda Assembly by-election in Odisha, Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) are engaged in a face-off accusing each other of indulging in violence.

With the bypoll scheduled to be held on May 10 fast approaching, leaders of both the political parties are seen levelling allegations and counter-allegations.

Senior BJP leader and MLA from Sundargarh Kusum Tete has filed an FIR at Laikera police station accusing BJD activists of having attacked her during campaign in Niktimal on Wednesday.

The legislator in her complaint alleged that several miscreants threw stones and eggs at her when she was campaigning for BJP candidate Tankadhar Tripathy in the area.

A case has been registered against 17 people on the basis of the complaint lodged by Tete at Laikera police station late on Wednesday night.

The legislator and several other BJP leaders also staged a protest in front of the police station, demanding immediate arrest of some BJD workers for committing this act.

Comdemning the attack on the tribal woman leader, BJP leaders said the ruling BJD is resorting violence and other unfair means in violation of the model code of conduct in Jharsuguda. They said the party will also take up the matter with the Election Commission of India (ECI) seeking immediate action.

A day after the BJP legislator filed the FIR, a delegation of ruling BJD submitted a petition to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in Bhubaneswar on Thursday alleging that MLA Kusum Tete and her party candidate Tankadhar Tripathy had violated model code of conduct in the run up to the by-election.

The BJD leaders alleged that Tete and Tripathy violated the model code of conduct by theatening, harassing and physically assaulting voters in Niktimal under Laikera block in Jharsuguda Assembly constituency on Wednesday.

They demanded immediate action against the BJP MLA, Tripathy and other BJP workers to prevent recurrence of such incidents ahead of the May 10 bypoll.