Bhubaneswar: The BJD Thursday approached the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and complained about the inaction of its office in checking BJP’s attempt to collect personal information about voters.
The party Thursday expressed its anguish over the allegation that the office of the CEO has failed to address their demands in tackling the promises made by the BJP to voters through their ‘pratishruti patra’ and in return taking their personal details by asking them to fill up a form. The BJD claimed that this was a violation of the model code of conduct.
A delegation of the ruling party Thursday met the CEO and submitted a memorandum which said, “We had communicated this earlier being done in some places in Odisha, but no action was taken. We request the CEO to intervene urgently in this matter and take action against the BJP for violating the model code of conduct by issuing receipts and promissory forms.”
The party said these acts violated the ethical standards of an election. The BJD in its submission before the CEO said the BJP is circulating promissory forms named ‘pratishruti patra’ in Sambalpur slum areas assuring voters of providing pattas after the elections, with an intent to hoodwink voters.
“In these forms the BJP promises to provide pucca houses and land pattas and people are filling in their personal details hoping to get them. These things can be mentioned in manifestos, but can never be collected in person from voters during or before elections. The BJP is guilty of both,” said the BJD memorandum.
The party also asked the CEO to act against the blatant display of BJP advertisements outside Central PSUs and other areas and asked the office to curb the practice.
The BJD also went ahead with a complaint against an Odia TV news channel owned by the family of a BJP MP candidate accusing it of broadcasting biased and paid news.