Bhubaneswar: A seven-member BJP delegation led by Odisha in-charge Arun Singh, on Friday, filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against Bargarh district Collector and Superintendent of Police (SP) alleging them as agents of ruling-BJD.
Demanding transfer of the duo, the BJP said that a free and fair Bijepur bypoll cannot be expected if both the officials are not transferred. The saffron party also alleged that the police personnel in the district, on the behest of the SP, are threatening BJP workers in Bijepur constituency.
"Both the SP office and the district Collector's office have become the party office of BJD. While the Collector is behaving as if he is the district president of the ruling party, the SP is working like its general secretary," alleged BJP's national spokesperson Sambit Patra.
“A team under the instruction of the SP is visiting houses in the Bijepur constituency and collecting details from locals like their caste, religion, who they had voted in 2014 and whom will they vote this time. Is this the work of an SP” questioned Patra.
Also Read: Mission Bijepur: BJD blows bypoll bugle ahead of schedule
"We have lodged a complaint with the ECI against the Bargarh SP and Collector. For a free and fair election, transfer of the duo is necessary. The ECI has assured us to take appropriate steps soon,” said BJP’s legislature party leader, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo.
Meanwhile, the BJD said that the BJP is afraid of getting exposed after the involvement of its spokesperson Golak Mohapatra in the Chhatrapur councillor’s murder case has come to fore and meeting the ECI today is a wasted stunt of the party to divert attention from the case.
Bijepur bypoll has been necessitated following the death of three-time Congress MLA Subal Sahu. However, the date of the bypoll is yet to be announced.
Also Read: Ruling-BJD on populism ‘overdrive’ ahead of Bijepur bypoll
While late Subal Sahu's wife Rita has already been named BJD's candidate for the bypoll, BJP and Congress are yet to announce their candidates.