Pipili Bypoll: BJP Seeks Of Withdrawal Odisha Chief Electoral Officer, Writes To ECI

Bhubaneswar: In an important development ahead of the crucial Pipili Bypoll, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday demanded the immediate withdrawal of the State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on the ground of ‘conflict of interest’.

In a letter to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the BJP alleged that senior IAS officer Sushil Kumar Lohani, who is working as the CEO, is also holding the substantive charge of Excise Department of Odisha government as Principal Secretary.

“As the CEO, Sushil Kumar Lohani is supposed to work independently and impartially without any influence or favour to any political party. His position as Principal Secretary, that too of a such sensitive department as Excise, brings him in direct conflict with his role as CEO during the ongoing Pipili Bypoll,” BJP’s letter to the ECI read.

The State BJP alleged that the ruling BJD has the track record of using bureaucrats including senior police and administrative service officers for purely political work.

“As such bureaucrats are under tremendous pressure to toe the line of BJD under threat of transfer and vigilance raid. The recent pre-mediated, politically motivated raids and arrests in case of a senior Forest Service Officer and an MLA of BJD is a direct threat to the recalcitrant bureaucrats as to their fate if they do not toe the line,” the letter read.

The BJP further feared that liquor would flow into the constituency in the run up to the election if Lohani continued to hold both the offices.

“Under such circumstances, Lohani as the CEO and Excise secretary would be forced to use his position to facilitate the flow of illegal liquor to Pipili and as CEO, he can influence the flying squads and other police machinery engaged in preventive activities to favour the ruling party,” the letter added.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Lekhashree Samantsinghar said, “Odisha is going to witness a bypoll. But it is surprising that the the present CEO is also the secretary of State government’s Excise department. We want to know how the government has committed such an unethical error. We have written to ECI for immediate withdrawal of Lohani from CEO or his Excise department’s post,” she added.

However, the State government was still to react at the time of publishing this news.