Bhubaneswar (Odisha): The Congress party on Monday filed a complaint with Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the state against BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate from Puri Sambit Patra alleging violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
The Odisha Pradesh Congress in its complaint said that Patra violated MCC by holding the idol of Lord Jagannath in his hand during an election rally. After Patra was nominated as BJP candidate from Puri Lok Sabha constituency, he took out a campaign rally during which he was seen holding an idol of Lord Jagannath. Patra’s name was mentioned among the 36 candidates for the Lok Sabha elections announced by the BJP on Friday night, ending speculations that Prime Minister Modi could contest from Puri.
The decision was taken after a meeting of the Central Election Committee of the BJP in the national capital attended by the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj among others. The seven-phase Lok Sabha elections will begin from April 11, and counting of votes will take place on May 23. Odisha has 21 Lok Sabha and 147 Assembly seats and the state will witness simultaneous elections in the first four phases-April 11, 18, 23 and 29.
