A complaint was filed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress party at Attabira Police Station alleging submission of fake caste certificate by a BJD candidate for the scheduled NAC election in Attabira in Bargarh district.
The complainants alleged that the BJD candidate, Rajeev Kahanra has submitted the bogus caste certificate, but the election commission officials have not initiated any action against him so far even if all the proofs pertaining to the alleged cheating have been furnished.
“BJD has submitted a false caste certificate during the nomination. But recently, the Tehsildar has rejected the caste certificate applied by Rajeev Kahanra. If no action is taken against Kahanra, it will be proved that the government does not want a free and fair election and the BJD wants to win it by unfair means,” said Bargarh District Congress President, Nihar Mahananda.
BJP leader Sureswar Satapathy alleged, “Rajeev Kahanra belongs to general category. He has filed a false caste certificate claiming that he belongs to the scheduled caste.”
Kahanra, however, refuted all the allegations. Speaking to OTV over phone, Kahanra said, “My certificates are legitimate. I am a fisherman (Keuta) by birth. In fact, all my family members have SC certificates. Moreover, the authorities have verified it. So there should not be any objection.”
The returning officer was not available for comments in this connection.
The voting for the Councillors and Chairpersons of Hindol and Attabira NACs will be held on April 3.
(Reported By Deepak Sharma, OTV)