BJP trying to turn Odisha into UP, Bihar, says BJD

Bhubaneswar/Rourkela: A day after large-scale violence marred the first phase of panchayat election on Wednesday, BJD on Thursday accused BJP of trying to introduce Uttar Pradesh and Bihar-style unrest in peace-loving Odisha.
The saffron party, however, countered the charges by blaming the BJD for the incidents and sought a reply from chief minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik on the issue.
As four journalists of two local TV channels were attacked while covering the elections in Puri district on Wednesday, both the parties blamed each other for the attack on media.
Addressing a news conference at Rourkela, BJD’s Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra said resorting to violence by BJP in the state is an act of frustration because it fears defeat in the ensuing panchayat election.
He said during election time, state BJP unit imports its Uttar Pradesh and Bihar model for the state and resorts to violence to ensure victory. Be it an attack on minister Susanta Singh’s brother or on a BJD worker at Pipili, the role of BJP leaders in instigating violence during election has been well established in the state.
The ruling party also approached the state election commission demanding debarring of BJP’s Sambalpur MLA Jayanarayan Mishra from further campaigning and action against some other leaders in Ganjam, Gajapati and Puri districts for taking the law into their own hands.
Addressing a news conference, BJP’s state unit president Samir Mohanty alleged direct involvement of BJD leaders in the violence during the first phase of the panchayat polls across Odisha.
Stating that democracy is in danger under BJD rule, Mohanty alleged that people don’t go to booths to exercise their democratic right for fear of BJD workers.
The state BJP president also urged the state election commission to take steps for conduct of peaceful elections in the remaining four phases.
Senior Congress leader Suresh Routray blamed both the BJD and BJP for the massive violence during the first phase of panchayat polls.