Collectors, senior cops were involved in BJD poll campaign : Maoist leader

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Rayagada, May 5:

Maoist leader and chief of Odisha Maobadi Party (OMP) Sabyasachi Panda has alleged that the state government had engaged district collectors and senior police officials in their election campaign during the two-phase polls on April 10 and 17.

In a release to the media, Panda has alleged that the government machinery was involved in massive vote rigging and that it was facilitated by deployment of armed police forces around the booths.

He also alleged that the police had arrested several pro-people leaders under false charges and by branding them as Maoists who were demanding poll boycott in Koraput, Rayagada, Ganjam, Kandhamal and Gajapati districts.

In his release, the Maoist leader has accused the police of trying to eliminate Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS) leader Nachika Linga and other tribal leaders at the behest of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

Citing instances of use of intimidation by the ruling party, he said the people of a village under Balanga block in Puri district were deprived of water and other essential services as they were suspected to have voted for a opposition party.

“Though the district administration had the information about the incident, it, however, preferred to remain silent”, Panda said in his release.

He said, major political parties violated the limit imposed by the Election Commission on money-spend by blowing up crores of rupees on road shows, chopper rides and public meetings. Besides, these parties had also spent huge sums on advertisement and publicity in local and national newspapers as well as TV channels during the poll campaign, he added.

Even the 108 Ambulance vans were used by the ruling party to transport loads of cash for distribution among the people to buy their votes.