BHUBANESWAR: Continuing its tirade against BJP for using money power to win Bijepur by-election, the ruling BJD on Monday alleged that the saffron party is promising to deposit `35,000 in the bank accounts of individuals who vote for its candidate. The BJP has collected bank account numbers of 35,000 voters and promised that money will be transferred to their accounts just before the poll. Certain public sector undertakings of the Central India have been asked by BJP to transfer the money out of their CSR fund for the purpose, it added.
In a memorandum to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), the BJD demanded that observers appointed by the ECI should keep vigil on this illegal money trail which, if not prevented, will fail to ensure a free and fair poll.Neanwhile, the Congress, which is fighting to retain the seat, demanded that the inquiry report on the seizure of `41.5 lakh at Mahulpali check gate should be made public. In a statement, general secretary of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Biswaranjan Mohanty said the administration has also not declared the owner of `3.2 lakh seized from two vehicles in Talpali panchayat of Gaisilet block on February 14.
Alleging that both BJD and BJP are blatantly violating model of code of conduct during campaign, Mohanty said though many instances have been brought to the notice of local adminstration, no action has been taken yet.In a separate memorandum to the CEO, the BJD demanded legal action against the BJP for non-submission of election expenditure. General secretary of BJD Pradeep Kumar Panigrahi alleged that the BJP is not submitting the daily election expenditure. Besides, the party’s election expenditure is not being assessed by the expenditure observer or any authorised officer.
The memorandum also claimed that the BJP workers are putting mehendi designs of lotus (the party’s symbol) on the palms of women voters of the constituency and alluring them to show their palms to other electorates for rewards. Alleging that such action of BJP workers is in violation of the model code of conduct issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI), BJD requested the CEO to verify these facts and take necessary action.