Odisha Police A Hurdle In Free & Fair Poll In Pipili: BJP

Bhubaneswar: The BJP on Monday accused the ruling BJD of unleashing a reign of terror in Pipili ahead of the bypoll to the assembly constituency in collusion with Odisha police.

In a joint press meet here, BJP national general secretary Sambit Patra and leader of the Opposition Pradipta Naik said that free and fair elections seem a remote possibility there.

They alleged that police are yet to arrest Dhirendra Samantray, Raja and Sanjay Samantray, who are campaigning for the BJD in Pilpili, despite non-bailable warrants being issued against them.

“BJP workers with no criminal antecedents are instead being harassed,” they added.

Referring to the escape of Sheikh Hyder from the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, the two leaders said police are more focused on the bypoll than tracing the dreaded gangster, who is on the run for nearly 48 hours ago.

Earlier in the day, a delegation of BJD leaders met the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Sushil Kumar Lohani, on Monday and demanded stern action against those involved in the attack on a senior party leader and two workers by BJP activists in Delang block.

Also Read: Pre-Poll Violence In Pipili: BJD Team Meets CEO, Demands Action Against BJP Workers

On Sunday, some miscreants had damaged the vehicle of Labour Minister Sushant Singh in front of Deland CHC when he was visiting some injured BJD workers, undergoing treatment there.

Similarly, two BJP leaders, including state secretary of women wing Rashmi Rekha Das, were allegedly assaulted by BJD workers on Saturday and another incident of attack on saffron party workers was also reported from Brahmanadaba village under Delanga police limits the following day.

BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty had then said that the BJP was making false allegations of attack on its workers fearing defeat in the bypoll.