The state unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday accused the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) of violating the Model Code of Conduct and approached the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Odisha for stern action.
As per the allegation by the BJP, students are receiving phone calls from the NUA-O call centre of the State government. The students across the state are being asked if they have received scholarships. If the answer is in the affirmative, then the students are being urged to vote for BJD, which is a clear case of violation of MCC.
In this regard, a delegation of BJP leaders called on the Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha and apprised him of the matter.
Besides demanding the closure of the NUA-O call centre along with other call centres of the Odisha government during the time of the election, the BJP also demanded stern actions against the erring persons involved in the matter.
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"When the receiver asks the caller as to why he/she should vote for BJD, the latter says that the scholarship amount has been provided by the BJD government and hence he/she should vote in favour of the ruling party. It's a clear violation of the election code of conduct. The Odisha government has been using the NUA-O call centre for the propaganda of BJD during the time of the election," said BJD leader Golak Mohapatra.
"We have apprised the Chief Electoral Officer of the issue and demanded stern action against the persons seeking votes for the ruling party," he added.
However, no reactions from BJD could be obtained.