Saswat Singhdeo

Bhubaneswar: BJP leader Pitambar Acharya met the Election Commission of India (ECI) today to submit documents in the poll expenditure irregularities case against Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

“We have submitted complete details before the ECI on discrepancies in poll expenditures of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Under section 110 of Representation of the People Act, he should be declared ineligible,” Acharya said.

Moreover, terming the Chief Electoral Officer of Odisha, Surendra Kumar as ruling-BJD's puppet, Acharya alleged that rules and regulations are not being followed.

He also alleged irregularities in reorganisation of booths and in preparation of electoral rolls. On the other hand, no response has been received either from BJD or the ECI authorities.

Earlier last week, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan took a jibe at BJD’s Puri MP Pinaki Misra over the latter's statement that he met the Election Commission of India (ECI) to seek simultaneous polls in the State.

Pradhan claimed that Misra met the ECI to provide information on the poll expenditure case pending against BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

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RTI activist Subash Mohapatra, who had lost in the 2014 general elections from Hinjlikatu constituency against Naveen Patnaik had alleged gross discrepancies in data furnished on poll expenses by the CM amounting to criminal breach of trust. The activist had filed a case before the Orissa High Court under the Representation of People Act.

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