The State Election Commission (SEC) on Tuesday pulled up Odisha FinanceMinister Prasanna Acharya for violation of model code of conduct while campaigning for urban local body elections at Bargarh.
While campaigning for a party nominee at ward 19 on November 22, Acharya reportedly said: “I am the Finance Minister. Funds are in my hands. If you vote for the Congress, I shall lock the funds.”
Meanwhile, the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) has demanded Acharya’s resignation.
“The minister should now resign as the SEC has pulled him up for violation of model code of conduct,” said OPCC president Jaydev Jena.Delegations from the Congress and BJP had earlier met State Election Commissioner Ajit Tripathy and submitted memoranda seeking action against Acharya for poll code violation.
The Congress had also demanded Tripathy’s removal for his inaction over the issue and had submitted a memorandum to Governor S C Jamir on December 13.
The SEC then met the Governor on Monday to give his version on the allegations that his conduct reeked of favouritism.