Bhubaneswar, November 9: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Sunday lodged a formal complaint with the Odisha Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) R.S. Gopalan, urging the removal of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) banners and posters from government properties in the Nuapada Assembly constituency, ahead of the ongoing by-election.
A delegation from the BJD, led by Rajya Sabha MP Sulata Deo and senior party leader Lenin Mohanty, visited the CEO's office in Bhubaneswar to submit the petition. In the document, the party expressed grave concerns over repeated violations of the model code of conduct by the BJP in the region, accusing the opposition party of displaying its campaign material on public utilities, including electricity poles and the walls of government buildings, schools, and colleges in Nuapada.
Despite multiple complaints to the District Collector and the CEO’s office, the BJD stated that BJP posters and hoardings remained in place, violating electoral norms. "We have repeatedly brought this issue to the attention of both the District Collector, Nuapada (District Electoral Officer), and your office, yet the BJP’s promotional materials continue to adorn government properties. This is a blatant disregard for electoral rules," the BJD's petition read.
The petition also took aim at the perceived bias of local authorities, particularly Nuapada Collector Madhusudan Dash and District Superintendent of Police Amritpal Singh. The BJD accused the officials of showing partiality towards the BJP, especially after a recent visit by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to the district. "During the Chief Minister's visit, he held a meeting with government officials, which further encouraged the district administration to act in favour of the BJP. It appears that these officials are now operating as BJP sympathizers, rather than as neutral enforcers of election laws," the BJD alleged.
The BJD’s complaint expressed concern over the impact this alleged partiality could have on public confidence in the electoral process. "This situation severely undermines the credibility of the election process. We respectfully request that the Odisha CEO take immediate action to ensure the removal of all BJP-related banners, posters, and other publicity materials from government properties across Nuapada district," the party urged in its petition.
In addition, the BJD called for strict action against any government officials found to be aiding the BJP's campaign, urging the CEO to ensure adherence to the model code of conduct during the election period and maintain neutrality among public servants.
