BJP complains EC against private secretary of CM for poll code violation

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today complained to the Election Commission officials in the state about activities of Kartikeyan Pandian, the private secretary to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, regarding violation of model code of conduct.

The senior bureaucrat, who is supposed to help the Chief Minister in his day to day affairs regarding state administration, is actually supporting the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president to run the campaign plan for the elections, the party alleged.

"The entire campaign of the BJD is being managed by a senior IAS officer (Kartikeyan Pandian) from Naveen Niwas, the residence of the Chief Minister of Odisha," said Rabi Sankar Patnaik, in-charge of the EC and legal affairs of the BJP state unit, in a two page letter written to the Chief Electoral Officer.

 

The party said it was an 'insidious tragedy' that the senior bureaucrat was influencing other officials of state administration to work on behalf of the party for its campaign in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections.

"It is further alleged that the said IAS officer Pandian is also instrumental in the misuse of official men and machineries for the campaigning of the ruling BJD party," it said.

The letter also alleged that the officer is using his position to influence bureaucrats including the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and alleged that he has been interfering with the election process in the state and issuing directions to the administration to help the BJD propaganda machinery.

"In this regard, a series of complaints have been sent to you, where model code of conduct has been violated in a blatant manner," the party said.

To prove his involvement in violation of polls codes, the IAS officer should be kept under round-the-clock surveillance and all his phone call records should be scrutinised since the poll code came into effect.The Election Commission should also take steps to share the details of their probe with the general public, the party demanded.

CEO Mona Sharma said she has received the letter of complaint, but since the BJP has forwarded the letter to the Election Commission of India seeking action against the IAS officer, steps will be taken after the Commission responds to it and issues appropriate direction.Earlier, the Election Commission had asked to transfer three district collectors and a police superintendent after complaints were received regarding their involvement in supporting BJD campaigning activities.

--EOM--