Odisha BJP moves Election Commission over poll code 'violation' in KALIA scheme

Bhubaneswar: The State unit of BJP met the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) accusing the ruling-BJD of violating the model code of conduct through its KALIA scheme.

As per the allegations, following the enforcement of the model code of conduct on March 10, the State Finance Minister, Shashi Bhusan Behera had announced that disbursement of monetary assistance to farmers under the KALIA scheme will continue till March 31, which is a is blatant violation of the poll code and the Finance Minister should be immediately dismissed, the BJP demanded.

A delegation of the BJP led by Odisha unit vice-president, Sameer Mohanty apprised CEO Surendra Kumar that the government has been unable to maintain transparency and accountability in the implementation of the KALIA scheme.

We have urged the CEO to discourage the State government from transferring cash to its selected party workers because it is just a political stunt just to garner votes during the upcoming polls, said Mohanty.