As political activities for the formation of councils and election of chairpersons reached a frantic pace, the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) on Tuesday alleged that pressure is being mounted on the Congress and the Independent councillors to support the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in places where no party has reached a majority.
Alleging that the BJD is indulging in horse-trading to lure councillors belonging to the Opposition parties, OPCC president Jaydev Jena said the local administration and the police have also been pressed into service.
He said ministers and MLAs have been asked to ensure that the BJD is able to form councils in a maximum number of ULBs.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kalpataru Das, however, dismissed Jena’s allegation saying that defeated persons always make such wild charges. “Show me an indirect election where the defeated party does not make such an allegation,” Das said and added that there is no question of horse-trading by the BJD.
Stating that the BJD will take control of 50 civic bodies, Das said the Independent councillors have volunteered their support to the party at many places. The OPCC president, however, said the Congress is confident of forming councils in 15 ULBs.
While the BJD got a clear majority in 41 out of 66 ULBs in the recently held polls, the Congress won in 10, while two went to Independents. There were hung councils in 13 ULBs. However, the Jatni NAC has gone in favour of the Congress after 8 councillors belonging to the Jay Jatni Party (JJP) and two Independents announced their support. The eight belonging to the JJP were rebel Congressmen.
The Congress is hopeful of forming councils in Koraput and Kotpad. While the Congress and the BJD have won 10 seats each in Koraput, one seat has gone to an Independent.
In Kotpad, six seats have been won by the Congress while five seats have gone to the BJD. Two seats have gone to Independents. The Congress can form the council with the support of one Independent at Kotpad.
The Congress is also in a position to win the Barbil NAC with the help of an Independent. The Congress has won seven out of 15 here while the BJD has won 5 seats. Two seats have gone to the BJP.
The BJP, which has emerged as the single largest party at Rairangpur by winning seven wards, is confident of forming the council with the help of the lone Independent councillor. The BJD has won three, while four seats have gone to the Congress here.