BJD meets poll panel, demands roll-back of rail unit shifting

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Bhubaneswar: A delegation from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Sunday met the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in the state to complain about the alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct by the BJP-led Central government.
The delegation complained that the central government notified shifting of the Rail Electrification unit from Bhubaneswar to Bangalore in Karnataka to woo the electorate there while snatching the prospects of Odisha with the move. The delegation sought the intervention of the electoral office for a fair election and demanded a roll back of the decision.
“…We were shocked to know that three days after the Model Code of Conduct has been imposed, the unit is being closed and shifted to Bangalore. This is a deep seated conspiracy by the BJP since it is at the Central government to garner votes in Karnataka that highlighting that they have done something significant for the people of Karnataka,” the memorandum by BJD to the electoral office said which also added that this move would deprive the people of Odisha and virtually attempted to destroy the electrification process of railways in Odisha.”
The BJD delegation comprised leaders like Badri Narayan Patra, Bijaya Nayak and others. It asked the electoral office to intervene. The delegation on their memorandum said, “The blatant and fragrant violation of the Model Code of Conduct repeatedly by the BJP through Central agencies does not augur well for the conduct of free and fair elections.”
It also added, “We hope you would intervene into this matter and also draw attention of the Election Commission of India in New Delhi to not only the violation aspect in Odisha but also the greater repercussions of this decision in Karnataka, as this act has pan-India ramifications.”
The BJD delegation also cited past example of the bifurcation of the East Coast Railway (ECoR) and said such decisions of the BJP central government is depriving Odisha and worked out to woo the electorate in nearby states.