BJP skeptic about fair polls in Kendrapara

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Bhubaneswar: Countering the BJD’s allegations against Kendrapara MP candidate Baijayant Panda, the BJP Saturday said elections there cannot be held in a free and fair manner if unwarranted non-voter BJD workers continue to work in the constituency.
The BJP alleged that the presence of numerous ministers, MLAs and political functionaries and BJD workers in Kendrapara constituency is in violation of the model code of conduct and the norm of silence period before elections.
The BJP in its submission before the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said that as per the poll codes, ministers, MLAs and political functionaries who have been provided security ought to leave the constituency as soon as the campaign period ends which is 48 hours before the time fixed for the closure of the polls.
The BJP in its memorandum said, “In the light of the provisions you are requested to take necessary actions for the ouster of state ministers, MLAs and political functionaries, party workers and more importantly all non-voters from Kendrapara parliamentary constituency under Rule 8.2.2 of the model code of conduct.”
The party reminded the CEO office about the poll code which says that after the closure of the campaign period, political functionaries, party works who have been brought from outside the constituency and non-voters have to leave the constituency as their continued presence after the end of the campaign period might undermine the atmosphere for free elections.
The saffron party also demanded deployment of adequate central forces for guarding the strong rooms across Odisha. The party in its submission to the CEO office cited the example of a strong room in the mining school area in Keonjhar where they objected to the movement of suspicious vehicles around the areas.
In their memorandum, the BJP said, “It is humbly prayed that time-bound investigations be conducted into the incident. Deployment of adequate central forces, CCTV surveillance and diligent monitoring of the strong rooms must also be ensured for all strong rooms in Odisha.”