EC I has sought clarification from the Odisha government for the alleged use of BJD symbol in its advertisements

Bhubaneswar:28/2/24: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has sought clarification from the Odisha government for the alleged use of the ruling BJD symbol in its advertisements.

According to sources, the Commission had received complaints that the ‘conch’ symbol of BJD was being displayed prominently in various advertisements of government schemes and plans in newspapers, TV channels, and huge hoardings.

The Commission considered the advertisements as a violation of its instructions issued in October 2016. “The Commission is of the view that utilizing public funds/public places for promoting any political party or propagating its election symbol would be antithetical to the concept of a free and fair election and the principle of a level playing field for all stakeholders,” the instructions had read.

The ECI had also directed the political parties not to use or allow the use of any public fund place or government machinery for carrying out any activity that would amount to an advertisement for the party or propagating the election symbol allotted to it.

The ECI has sought clarification from the Chief Secretary of Odisha and general secretary of BJD on the matter by March 2 evening.