Puri: With campaigning for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha picking up, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday accused the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) of indulging in blatant violation of model code of conduct by distributing money to woo voters in Puri.
Making serious allegations against the Naveen Patnaik-led party, senior BJP leaders of the coastal district accused BJD candidate for Brahmagiri Assembly constituency Umakanta Samantray of being involved in violation of model code of conduct.
Coming down heavily on the regional outfit, BJP leaders alleged that Samantaray sent his wife to the constituency to influence voters through unfair and unethical means.
They further alleged that she conducted meetings with officials in gross violation of poll code. It was alleged that a meeting was held on behalf of the BJD nominee at a Kalyan Mandap in Atharanala area of Puri. Community Resource Persons (CRP) and Master Book Keepers (MBK) of 11 panchayars under Puri Sadar block had been called to the meeting to engage them in favour of BJD, they claimed.
BJP’s Puri district youth wing president Jayant Das alleged that discussion was held at the meeting on how to influence voters and distribute money in the run up to the elections.
Though the flying squad had been informed about the meeting meant for money distribution, the officials deliberately reached the venue late, the BJP leader alleged.
Refuting the allegation as false and baseless, Puri BJD unit president Dibakar Patra claimed that some people had gathered to celebrate someone’s birthday and the congregation had nothing to do with the upcoming elections.
