The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday alleged that Collector and Superintendent of Police of Odisha’s Nuapada district have resorted to threaten, and coerce cadres and supporters of the BJD to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the 11 November bye-election of Nuapada assembly seat.
In a representation to the Election Commission, the BJD leaders pointed out grave violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) of this nature by submitting it before the Chief Electoral Officer Odisha.
“It has come to our notice, and is widely reported among party workers and the general public, that Madhusudan Dash, Collector of Nuapada district, and Amritpal Singh, Superintendent of Police, Nuapada district, are misusing their official positions and government machinery to intimidate, threaten, and coerce cadres and supporters of the BJD to join the BJP,” the petition charged.
Such systematic and high-handed use of authority grossly undermines the democratic process and casts serious aspersions on the impartiality of the election administration.
The Collector’s primary role, in an election, is to serve as the District Election Officer, supervising all election-related activities in the district under the direction of the Election Commission of India, while remaining impartial and upholding the integrity of the process, the petition maintained.
The Collector must not act as a representative of any political party or compromise neutrality. Similarly, the Superintendent of Police is responsible for maintaining law and order and ensuring peaceful, fair elections by strictly following the directives of the Election Commission, always acting with independence and fairness.
These actions on their part constitute a blatant and willful violation of the Model Code of Conduct, eroding public confidence in the neutrality of government officials and threatening the free and fair conduct of elections as enshrined in the Constitution of India, it further stated.
The regional party urged the ECI to take urgent cognizance of the serious misconduct by the Collector and Superintendent of Police of Nuapada district, ensure all officials involved in the election process maintain strict neutrality and act in accordance with the law and the Model Code of Conduct. It further sought for initiation of exemplary and appropriate action against any act of intimidation, coercion, or misuse of government machinery to influence the electoral process.