Poll code violation against BJP, OTV

Bhubaneswar: A delegation of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) today brought a fresh allegation against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), MP candidate Baijayant Panda and a private news channel for violating the Election Commission guidelines.

The delegation comprised of BJD spokespersons Lenin Mohanty, Sulochana Das and Sasmit Patra met the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) alleging Panda of giving byte to media during silence period of the first phase elections 2019.

The party alleged that Panda had given bytes to a particular news channel on elections and that was aired during silence period today.

“It is said that during the silence period, star campaigners and other political leaders should refrain from addressing the media by way of press conference and giving interviews on election matters. However, it was shocking to note that the BJP leader Baijayant Panda had given a media byte which construes as an interview in the electoral process. The OTV has telecasted this today between 1.40 pm and 1.49 pm,” the BJD delegation said in a letter handed over to the CEO.

The BJD team came up with another allegation of model code of conduct against the OTV for subtly influencing the voters with influencing questions during the polls.

“The OTV has been using its reporters since this morning to ask voters queuing up at polling booths certain questions which violates the model code of conduct. Those questions are aimed at influencing voters to vote for change and also influencing voters to vote against the Biju Janata Dal very subtly and implicitly,” the BJD alleged.

The party sought strict and immediate action against Panda and the news channel for the violation of EC guidelines.

Further, the BJD alleged the BJP’s State vice president and spokesperson Samir Mohanty of holding a press meet, which was scrolled continuously from 2.00 pm on the particular news channel.