BJD moves CEO, opposes NCST programme in Jharsuguda ahead of bypoll

Bhubaneswar: The ruling BJD appealed to the Odisha’s chief electoral officer to disallow former BJP leader and member of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribe to hold official programmes in the bypoll-bound Jharsuguda assembly segment.

In a representation to the CEO, a team of BJD leaders said they understand that NCST member Anant Nayak is planning to hold programmes in Jharsuguda area where the Model Code of Conduct is in force for the May 10 by-election.

A delegation of the ruling BJD visited the office of the CEO on Monday and submitted a petition, saying that Nayak’s meeting or programme would be a violation of the MCC imposed for the bypoll.

They also pointed out that Nayak was elected as BJP MP from Keonjhar.

Stating that Nayak is now holding a constitutional position as NCST member, the delegation said there is no justification for him to hold such a meeting in Jharsuguda, especially with the election model code of conduct in force.

“If he (Nayak) does so, it would be construed as being a violation of the election model code of conduct,” the BJD said.

The ruling party urged the CEO not to provide any permission to Nayak to hold any meeting in Jharsuguda ahead of the by-election.

Meanwhile, an official release from the CEO’s office said that altogether nine candidates will remain in the fray in the Jharsuguda by-election after one withdrew his nomination paper on Monday.

Bhubaneswar Gartia withdrew his nomination on Monday, the CEO's office said.

The election is being held after the demise of health minister Naba Kishore Das, who was the MLA from the constituency, on January 29.

The candidates in the fray are Deepali Das (BJD), Tankadhar Tripathy (BJP), Tarun Pandey (INC), Janma Rohodas (Odisha Pragati Dal), Manish Sharma (Odisha Janata Party), Mahindra Patnaik (Kalinga Sena) and independent candidates Bijay Kumar Jalan, Mahendra Luha and Gyanendra Behera.