BJP moves CEO alleging poll code violation by ruling party in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today moved the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) alleging violation of model code of conduct (MCC) by the ruling party ahead of the simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha.

The BJP delegation comprising party leaders Lekhasree Samantasinghar, Dillip Mallick, Rajendra Panda, Surath Biswal, Sujit Kumar Das and Jayanta Jena met CEO Nikunja Bihari Dhal at his office here and submitted the complaint.

In its complaint, the BJP delegation alleged that the authorities concerned are yet to remove posters, hoardings and banners put up by the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) from public places even though the MCC is in the force in Odisha.

According to the delegation, no step has been taken by the authorities to remove the posters and hoardings depicting the images of Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik from public places and government institutions and offices in Odisha.

“The hoardings and posters depicting the images of BJD president and party’s poll symbol are still visible at various places in the twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. This has violated the model code of conduct imposed ahead of the twin polls in the state,” said the BJP delegation in its complaint.

The delegation further alleged that the authorities have selectively removed the posters and hoardings of BJP depicting the images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from public places.

The BJP delegation urged the CEO to take appropriate action in this regard.