BJP demands action against Naveen, Dama for poll code violation

OST Bureau

Bhubaneswar, Sep 9:

The state BJP today demanded action against Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik and party vice-president Damodar Rout for alleged violation of the model code of conduct currently in force for urban local bodies (ULBs) polls scheduled to be held on September 19.

A delegation of BJP leaders including Samir Mohanty, Sajjan Sharma and Dillip Mohanty met the state election commissioner (SEC) Ajit Tripahty and sought action against the BJD leaders.

The party alleged that the Chief Minister landed his helicopter at the ground of Swami Vivekananda Memorial (SVM) College at Jagatsinghpur. Besides, he was received by government officials and even went to the government circuit house in the company of the district collector.

The party has alleged that Health minister Rout used red beacon on his personal car. “The minister used red beacon on his personal car. When confronted by the sub-collector, who raised objection and asked him to remove it, he reprimanded the official and argued with him,” said the delegation of the party.

“The ruling party has been throwing all rules to the wind. They are openly flouting the code of conduct and misusing the official machinery and officialdom for the campaigning of the party,” said the delegation.

However, the BJD vice-president denied the charge saying he had not violated the model code of conduct.