BHUBANESWAR : The State BJP on Wednesday petitioned the Election Commission against two District Election Officers (DEOs) of Kandhamal and Nayagarh for violating Model Code of Conduct.
Accusing them of allowing the leaders of the ruling BJD to canvass for the party candidate even after closure of the campaign, chairman of the BJP’s campaign committee for Kandhamal by-election Bijay Mohapatra urged the Election Commission to take appropriate action against the two election officers.
Ministers and BJD MLAs not belonging to Kandhamal stayed back in the district to influence the voters through inducement.
Though BJP brought this to the notice of the DEO and the Chief Electoral Officer, no action was taken, Mohapatra told reporters.
The BJP urged the Election Commission to not assign any election duty to the Collectors of Kandhamal and Nayagarh in future.
Earlier, the BJP had complained to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Mona Sharma against Minister of State for Panchayati Raj Arun Sahu for violating the Model Code of Conduct by trying to influence voters in the presence of police at Khamar Sahi.