Bhubaneswar/Bargarh: With the Election Commission (EC) announcing the dates for polls in three states without any word on the Bjepur by-election, a war of words between the BJP, BJD and the Congress in Odisha has ensued once again.
The BJD and the Congress lashed out at the BJP alleging that the saffron party is intentionally delaying the bypoll by misusing its power.
"There is no second thought that the EC is being pressurised by the BJP to delay the Bijepur bypolls. The BJP knows that it will bite the dust in the constituency if the by-elections were conducted now," BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra said.
The Congress too came down heavily on the BJP alleging that the bypoll is being delayed due to vested interests.
"BJP's political motive is to delay the bypoll. The EC is being forced," alleged senior Congress leader and Opposition chief whip, Tara Prasad Bahinipati.
However, the Odisha unit of BJP refuted the allegations stating that the BJD and the Congress are pointing fingers at the party without any proof.
"The state is yet to submit the voter list of the constituency, only after which the EC can declare the final voter list and the bypoll date. It's the EC which will announce the bypoll date, BJP has nothing to do with it," reiterated Odisha BJP vice-president, Sameer Mohanty.