As battle of ballot inches closer, 'fight' between political parties hit fever pitch

Bhubaneswar: With the upcoming general elections heating up the State politics, allegations and counter allegations among political parties have hit fever pitch in Odisha.

Accusing the Bolangir district BJD unit of violating model code of conduct, the Nagar Congress Committee and the district Congress Campaign Committee on Saturday met the district electoral officer and sought his intervention into the matter.

The Congress alleged that the ruling-party had organised a party programme at Rameswar Nagar Primary School in Ward no 7 of Bolangir Municipality which is in violation of poll code. The party also claimed of having a video recording of the event where Bolangir Municipality chairperson, vice-chairperson and local councillor were seen coming out of the school.

“We have urged the Election Commission to take stringent action against the ruling party unit for violating poll norms by organising their party programme inside the premises of the government school," said president of Bolangir Congress Poll Campaign Committee.

However, the BJD refuted allegations levelled by the Congress. "Some women, who were to take part in an awareness programme on government welfare schemes near the school, had entered the premises of the institute due to scorching heat. But since model code of conduct is in force, we entered the school and asked the women to get out of the place. Later, we organised the programme outside the premises of the school,” said Soudamini Behera, Chairman of Bolangir Municipality.