Odisha Elections: BJP Demands Transfer Of IPS Officer Asish Singh

Bhubaneswar: Odisha unit of BJP on Thursday demanded transfer of IPS officer Asish Kumar Singh out of state for allegedly violating model code of conduct in the ensuing elections.

In a memorandum submitted to the chief electoral officer in Bhubaneswar, a team of BJP leaders, led by party spokesman Satyabrat Panda said though the Election Commission of India (ECI) had earlier removed Singh from his post and transferred him, he continued to interfere in the election process.

“Singh has been helping the ruling BJD in transporting the black money through police officials to influence the election. The DIG is also accused of threatening the rival candidates of BJD over telephone. It is also alleged that several Opposition leaders were targeted and harassed when Singh was posted in the home district of chief minister Naveen Patnaik earlier,” the BJP leaders said in the memorandum.

The saffron party alleged that the ruling party has not stopped from influencing the voters through illegal means by using the government officers, despite facing several complaints of violation of model code of conduct.

The BJP sought urgent intervention of the chief electoral officer to seize Singh’s phone immediately and transfer him out of the state to ensure free and fair elections.