Will step down if poll expenditure allegations proved true: Jual

Bhubaneswar: Union Tribal Affairs Minister and lone elected BJP MP from Odisha Jual Oram today offered to step down, if the allegations of discrepancies in poll expenditure statement levelled by the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) were proved true.

Jual Oram’s response comes after the ruling party yesterday, in a press meet, claimed that the Sundargarh MP has misrepresented facts in his election expenditure statement submitted to Election Commission after 2014 elections.

“I am prepared to face any probe. The allegations levelled by the BJD are politically motivated. If the allegations are proved true, then I would step down as a minister,” Jual Oram said in his response at New Delhi.

He further said that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik should first resign as irregularities have been traced during preliminary investigations pertaining to the poll expenses statement of BJD and Patnaik.

The BJP and BJD are at loggerheads over the issue after the saffron party targeted BJD supremo.

As a counter to the BJP allegations, BJD MPs Pinaki Mishra and Pratap Keshari Deb yesterday held a press conference in Bhubaneswar where they showed documents claiming Jual Oram furnished false affidavit to the Election Commission.