Odisha Panchayat Polls: SEC Debars BJD MLA Pramila Mallik From Campaigning

Bhubaneswar: The State Election Commission (SEC) on Sunday debarred BJD MLA Pramila Mallik from campaigning in the panchayat elections for violating the poll code of conduct.

In an official letter to Jajpur collector, the SEC said it has debarred Mallik from campaigning for two days from February 14 in the panchayat elections. The Commission took the decision on the basis of the collector’s letter and Binjharpur MLA’s reply to the show cause notice.

“The Commission disapproves of the conduct of Mallik, MLA Binjharpur and debars her from campaigning, including interviews, public utterances in media (electronic, print, social media) etc anywhere in the State of Odisha for a period of 48 hours starting from 10 am of Dt 14.02.2022 in the ensuing General Elections to PRIs, 2022,” the letter read.

It may be noted that speaking at an election meeting on Thursday, Mallik, who is the chief whip in Odisha Assembly, had told the gathering that if they do not vote for BJD supported candidates in the panchayat elections, they would be deprived of getting the benefits under the state government schemes like old age pension, ration cards and pucca houses.

Following complaints from the local people and opposition parties against Mallik, the SEC had directed the district collector to issue a show-cause notice to the legislator.

However, Mallik, in her reaction to the notice, said she had not violated any law. “What is wrong in asking the people to vote for my party? It is not a mistake to tell them not to approach me, if they do no support the party candidates in the election,” she said while speaking the media persons.