Bhubaneswar: Demanding acceptance of resignation from a government job of its candidate for the Saraskana Assembly seat, state BJP leaders Wednesday sat on a dharna in front of Naveen Niwas.
State BJP vice-president Samir Mohanty, spokesperson Lekhasree Samantasinghar and the candidate, Budhan Murmu, sat staged demonstration after meeting the political secretary of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Murmu, a doctor at Rangamatia Primary Health Centre in Mayurbhanj district, had applied for retirement under voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) October 4 last year. However, even after six months, the state government has not relieved him of his service.
Mohnaty alleged that while the government is accepting the resignation of officials contesting as BJD candidates, it was deliberately delaying the acceptance of the VRS of Murmu. The BJD government is anti-tribal and doesn’t want Murmu to contest the election as a BJP candidate, he alleged.
The saffron party further alleged that the CM is deliberately avoiding the resignation of Murmu as he is afraid that the latter might win the elections from Saraskana.
He said they were told by the government officials that Murmu’s file is being processed. The BJP leaders said they would continue their dharna till Murmu is relieved of his job.
Earlier, the BJD had moved Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Surendra Kumar alleging that BJP has violated the model code of conduct by nominating Murmu as its candidate for the elections and further engaging him in campaigning.
The filing of nominations for fourth phase elections for various assembly seats including Saraskana will begin Thursday and continue till April 9.