Odisha Panchayat Polls: BJD Meets SEC To Demand Arrest Of BJP Candidate In Sundargarh On Cash For Vote Charge

Bhubaneswar: Even as the fifth and final phase of panchayat elections is underway in the state, the ruling BJD on Thursday met the State Election Commission (SEC) to demand arrest of a BJP candidate for allegedly distributing cash in Sundargarh district.

In a memorandum submitted to the SEC, a delegation of BJD leaders said in fear of losing elections, the leaders and workers of opposition BJP continue to indulge in electoral malpractices.

“After unleashing wave of election related violence at multiple places across the state, BJP’s Sundargarh-A zilla parishad candidate Pravin Nayak was caught by locals distributing cash in Kinjirima panchayat. He has been handed over to the police bv the locals who caught him,” they said.

Even as the voters are interested in participate in the three-tier panchayat elections, the BJP has been indulged in polluting the process by resorting to cash for votes, they added.

Stating that it was a violation of model code of conduct, they demanded arrest of the BJP leaders and workers involved in electoral malpractices, violence and distribution of cash for votes.

“In the present case, we want strict criminal action to be taken against BJP candidate Pravin Nayak who was caught by locals while distributing cash,” they said in the memorandum. They also enclosed photographs and a video clip of the incident with the memorandum.