Odisha BJP Leaders and Candidates Continue to Threaten Govt Officials on Poll Duty: BJD

Bhubaneswar: The ruling Biju Janata Dal on Saturday alleged that the Odisha BJP leaders and candidates continue to threaten and intimate government officials on elections duty in the State by misusing the name of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

A delegation of BJD moved the Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha seeking strong action against the State BJP leaders and candidates for allegedly unleashing threats of transfers and punitive actions against the government officials on poll duty.

The BJD said, “Despite our repeated requests to you to intervene, the Odisha BJP leaders and candidates are not ceasing in these illegal activities. In the past we have placed how BDOs, Tahsildars, DSPs and IICs were being called and threatened by these Odisha BJP leaders and candidates with transfers and punitive actions by misusing the name of the Election Commission of India”.

The BJD further alleged that Odisha BJP’s Berhampur Lok Sabha candidate Pradeep Panigrahi had openly threatened Government officials on election duty in Ganjam and Gajapati districts, misusing the name of the Election Commission of India to get them transferred or face punitive action.

The Odisha BJP leaders and candidates have been calling up and threatening and intimidating grassroots women of Odisha working in each Panchayat of Odisha such as ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and leaders of Mission Shakti to either to support them in this election or be prepared to face punitive action further misusing the name of the ECI.

The BJD further stated that Odisha BJP leader Prasant Jagdev physically assaulted a journalist in the Padayatra of BJP Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha candidate Aparajita Sarangi in Jankia, Khurda district and then threatened and intimidated the local Police IIC of Jankia to withdraw the FIR filed by the assaulted journalist or face the consequences of Police Station being gheraoed. Jagdev then barged in late night at Jankia Police Station in an alcoholic drunken state and further threatened and intimidated the Jankia PS IIC with transfer and punitive action misusing the name of the Election Commission of India, the BJD alleged.

Under the pressures of threats and intimidation and misuse of the Election Commission of India’s name, Government officials on election duty cannot undertake their election duties without fear or favour, the BJD said.