The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : BJD topper among code violators: SEC

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BJD topper among code violators: SEC

Staff Reporter

Commission receives 153 complaints against candidates of different political parties

BMC is scheduled to go to polls on Dec. 2
Works Department told to suspend junior engineer

BHUBANESWAR: Ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) topped the list of political parties, which were accused of violating model code of conduct in the run up to the December 2 Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls.

State Election Commission (SEC) on Saturday said as many as 153 complaints had been filed against candidates of different political parties in various police stations of the capital city as they reportedly violated poll code.

According to SEC, BJD was facing charges of violation in 45 cases while its ruling alliance Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had 36 complaints against its name.

As many as 30 complaints had been filed against the main opposition Congress, an SEC statement said here.

Independent candidates were also charged of violating code as 33 cases were filed against some of them. Similarly, there were four cases against Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidates, two against Communist Party of India, Bahujan Samaj Party (one) and Samajwadi Party (2).

Meanwhile, SEC has recommended Works Department to suspend Purnachandra Padhi, a junior engineer, as he was hosting feasts in support of a candidate contesting elections.

As per the report submitted by Pradip Kumar Jena, a senior bureaucrat and election observer for the ensuing election, Mr. Padhi was regularly throwing parties for supporters of Anant Narayan Jena who was contesting for councillor’s post in ward-33.

Poll campaign

The election observer informed the SEC that the junior engineer was also involved in election campaign related activities in the evening and his office was converted to a centre for the cause.

Notification

The commission asked the Works Department to submit a compliance report on his suspension by Sunday.

The commission also directed to appoint a senior officer in his place so that he could stop political activities in the office.

Meanwhile, campaign by different political parties has become shriller as Sunday is the last date for campaigning. BMC is scheduled to go to poll on December 2.

Revenue Department also came out with a notification declaring holiday for employees of all banks and offices for the election.

On Saturday, top leaders of political parties made whirlwind tours to different localities campaigning for their party candidates. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik came to Acharya Vihar area and appealed people to vote for BJD candidates.

Similarly, State Rural Development Minister Biswa Bhushan Harichandan and president of Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Jayadev Jena also went to slum areas seeking support.

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