Bhubaneswar:24/4/23: A delegation from Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday met Odisha Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) requesting no meeting in Jharsuguda during the election process.
Seeking postponement of a proposed meeting of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes member Anant Nayak in Jharsuguda, the BJD leaders apprised the CEO thatNayak’s convention will violate the model code of conduct which is in force for the May 10 bypoll.
A delegation of the ruling BJD led by Spokesperson Lelin Mohanty, visited the office of the CEO and submitted a petition, stating that the election model code of conduct is in force in Jharsuguda for the forthcoming Assembly bypoll.
The BJD’s memorandum submitted to CEO said NCST member Anant Nayak is going to visit Jharsuguda for a meeting and some other organisational programme mentioning that Nayak was a BJP leader and a MP from Keonjhar. Nayak’s visit may affect the political environment ahead of the election. There is no justification for him to hold such a meeting in Jharsuguda, especially within the election model code of conduct in force.
“If Nayak goes for any meeting under the constituency, it would be construed as a breach of the model code of conduct,” said the memorandum, urging the CEO not to tender any permission to Nayak to hold any meeting in Jharsuguda ahead of the by-election