Controversy erupts in Odisha as govt teacher campaigns for BJD; BJP calls for action

Amid the ongoing campaigning ahead of the polling, stringent rules to prohibit government employees from indulging in political activities and election campaigning seem to have allegedly been thrown to the wind in Odisha.

Several government employees have been accused of violating the law as well as the model code of conduct. After the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused Kendrapara Mission Shakti Women’s Maha Sangha President Sanjukta Satapathy of doing political activities, a government teacher has been spotted campaigning for BJD in Jajpur.

Aftabudin Khan, posted at Borei Primary School under Binjharpur block in Jajpur district was recently spotted campaigning along with Jajpur BJD MP candidate Sharmistha Sethi. Several pictures of Khan's campaigning with the BJD candidate have now gone viral on social media.

“Aftabudin Khan is presently working as a teacher at Borei Primary School. He has been spotted doing campaigning and political activities with BJD MP candidate Sharmistha. We have enough proof of it. We will resort to mass agitation if no action is taken in this regard,” said BJP candidate Babita Mallick.

When contacted, Jajpur Collector Nikhil Pawan Kalyan said, “We are getting complaints and have tried to solve them. We have got 7 complaints till now. We will try to look into the matter and take necessary action in connection with the complaints. Government officials should not violate MCC and we will take action as per the ECI guidelines.”