Odisha Panchayat Polls: BJP Accuses BJD Of Using Teachers For Campaigning, Files Complaint With SEC 

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) drew flak from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for allegedly allowing two government school teachers to campaign for the party for the coming Panchayat elections. 

The saffron party alleged that two government school teachers setting aside the rules of the State Election Commission (SEC) took part in the campaigning which was led by the Deputy Chairman of State Planning Board Sanjay Das Burma. Taking serious note of the illegalities, a delegation of leaders belonging to the Odisha unit of the BJP, led by the party’s State general secretary, Golak Mohapatra, on Friday took up the matter with the SEC. They lodged a complaint with the Commission and demanded action against those involved in the violation of the rules.

They also complained about the BJD chairperson from Korei Block in Jajpur district who allegedly distributed money and collected PhonePay numbers of electorates. To corroborate their allegations, the saffron party leaders also submitted video clips of both the incidents before the SEC.    

Terming the incidents as 'tips of the iceberg', Mohapatra alleged that government employees across the State were paying scant regard to the rules laid down by the State Election Commission. “Today we have lodged a complaint with the SEC regarding two government school teachers campaigning with Deputy Chairman of State Planning Board Sanjay Das Burma and the Korei Block chairperson distributing money and collecting PhonePay numbers. We hope the SEC will take stringent action against those involved in the two incidents,” Mohapatra said.   

The BJD is yet to come out with its clarification over these two incidents.