Bhubaneswar: The BJD on Thursday complained to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEIO) that Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is collecting huge amounts of money from petrol pump owners, gas dealers and Chhattisgarh, distributing the same among Bijepur voters and wooing them to vote for BJP candidate Ashok Panigrahi.
Stating that several incidences have proved its allegation, the ruling party sought stringent action against Pradhan. A team led by BJD vice-president Surjya Narayan Patro submitted a memorandum to the CEO in this regard. While Rs 40.50 lakh was seized from Akash Agrawal and Rs 10.20 lakh from Dunguripali Mangiram and Co petrol pump cashier Suru Dandsena, the CEO has not taken any action, the party rued.
It brought a fresh allegation that IOCL employees are now raiding petrol pumps and demanding owners to pay funds for the by-poll. If a petrol pump owner doesn’t give money, then his petro pump is being sealed by the officials.
A complaint lodged before the Bargarh Election Officer by Biswa Jaya Jagannath Filling Station proprietor Gatikurshna Mishra is just an example, it mentioned. “Pradhan has crossed all limits of model code of conduct.
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