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Bhubaneswar: Close on the heels of a string of allegations against BJD’s Kendrapara MP Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda, similar allegations of improper allocation of MPLAD funds have surfaced in Bolangir beseeching the CM and BJD party president Naveen Patnaik to order a Kendrapara-like probe.
BJD’s Bolangir MP Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo has been accused by his own party’s Kantabanji MLA Ayub Khan of not allocating MPLAD funds.
According to Ayub, despite requests for funding from the MPLAD fund for projects, the party’s RS member and his son, a LS member are not approving the proposals.
“I approached one of the senior leaders of the Party in Bolangir who is a RS member for funds for some developmental projects. He sent me to his son, who is a LS member. However, despite submitting my requests long time back, nothing has been done,” said Ayub Khan.
Replying to the allegations, MP Kalikesh Singh Deo said “While distributing MPLAD funds, I take into consideration all the demands. If someone has any specific allegations, they should discuss with me.”
“If the allegations are proved true and brought to the notice of the party president then both the MP and the MLA will be called for discussions and the matter will be resolved,” said BJD spokesperson, Sameer Dash.
Over the past few days, similar allegations of improper allocation of MPLAD funds along with charges of not being in touch with party worker have been made against MP Jay Panda by a faction in Kendrapara leading the CM to order probe. Meanwhile, probe reports have been submitted by party’s Kendrapara observer Pramila Mallick and district president Dhruba Sahoo.
Sahoo in his report had mentioned that despite CM Naveen’s recommendations Jay Panda in his parliamentary region has failed to provide Rs 50 Lakh funding to the constituency of the party’s winning legislator and Rs 1 crore funding to constituency of the defeated legislator candidate.
Replying to such allegations, Jay Panda’s Political Secretary Jyoti Ghose had said that there are no guidelines wherein it is stipulated that the MPLAD projects should be implemented in consultation with the legislators.
As per his office, even there are no guidelines on utilisation of MPLAD funds, Jay Panda has taken due care to ensure that investments are done based on the needs of the local people.
After ordering multiple probes against MP Jay Panda, all eyes are now on what actions are being ordered by CM Naveen on charges of MPLAD fund misutilisation in Bolangir.
