Talcher: BJD MLA from Talcher Braja Pradhan is in a soup following allegations that he asked a teenage, college going girl during a WhatsApp chat to sleep with him if she wanted her father to get a job.
Printouts of the WhatsApp chat between an account in the name of the legislator and the young girl have been pasted all over the place in the town.
In a conversation that leaves little to imagination, the lawmaker bluntly tells the girl; "Jadi tame mo sangare gote night biteiba tahale mu tomora bapanku chakiri debi" ("If you spend a night with me, I will give a job to your father").
When the girl points out that she is young enough to be his daughter, the legislator quips; "Kan asubidha ki?" ("What's the problem?")
The next morning, it is Pradhan who starts the chat and tells the girl "22 tarikha dina mun tamora college ku gadi pathibi, tame sei gadire asiba' ("On 22nd, I will send a vehicle to your college. You come on that vehicle").
The Talcher MLA has refuted the charges and said he did not talk to any young girl on WhatsApp.
Pradhan further stated, “This is a political ploy. People with evil intention are trying to defame me,” adding party activists will lodge an FIR regarding this.
“Besides, I will also talk to the local police on the matter,” the legislator said.
Meanwhile, politics has hotted up over the issue with the Opposition pouncing on this chance to embarrass the ruling party.
"If true, this is highly condemnable. The truth must come out. We have submitted a memorandum to the sub collector in this regard," said Sabita Dhir, president of the district women's Congress.
Condemning the legislator for his indiscretion, general secretary of district BJP Prakash Chandra Maharana said; "The MLA must clarify his position. It is an unfortunate incident. The culprit must be punished."
The BJD has, however, come out in strong defence of Pradhan saying it is an attempt to defame him.
"Unable to digest the popularity of the legislator, the opposition has hatched a conspiracy to defame him. We strongly condemn such an attempt. We have lodged an FIR asking for stringent action against those who have done the mischief," said Bijay Biswal, BJD secretary of Talcher block.