Padampur Bypoll: BJP Moves CEO Against Odisha Minister Naba Das

Bhubaneswar: BJP on Sunday petitioned Odisha’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) alleging ‘murderous’ attack on its workers by ‘goons’ hired by Health Minister Naba Kishore Das and other ruling BJD leaders during Padampur Assembly bypoll campaigning.

A BJP delegation led by opposition Chief Whip Mohan Majhi submitted the petition in CEO’s office in Bhubaneswar and demanded steps to keep Naba Das away from bypoll process in the Assembly constituency in Bargarh district.

Accusing BJD leaders of indulging in hooliganism and attacking BJP workers in Padampur fearing defeat in the bypoll, BJP said law and order situation has worsened in Padampur.

Alleging that Naba Das has brought goons from Jharsuguda and deployed them in the bypoll-bound constituency to unleash terror, Majhi claimed that three BJP workers sustained grievous injuries in an attack by hired goons in Dhenkimunda area of Pakikmal at the instruction of Das.

The saffron party alelged that over 15 Ministers have indulged in violence and attacked BJP workers, leaving them injured. Though an FIR was lodged, police have not taken any action against the attackers, it claimed

The party will raise the issue in the ongoing Assembly session if the CEO doesn’t take any action against the Ministers who are allegedly involved in violation of model code of conduct.

Majhi also alleged that BJD legislator Manohar Randhari is openly distributing blankets among voters in violation of poll code, but no action has been taken despite a complaint lodged by BJP.

The senior BJP leader said that the party has urged the CEO to deploy Central forces for the safety of party workers. The CEO should function in an impartial manner instead of acting as a puppet at the hand of the ruling party, he said.

Stating that Ministers Rohit Pujari and Rajendra Dholkia had allegedly violated model code of conduct earlier, Majhi said the CEO is yet to take action against them despite a complaint lodged before by BJP.