Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal on Thursday alleged large-scale interference by BJP leaders in student union elections across the state and violation of Lyngdoh Committee norms.
Addressing a press conference at Shankha Bhawan, party senior general secretary and former minister Pritiranjan Ghadai, MLA Byomkesh Ray, Biju Yuva Janata Dal president Chinmaya Sahu and Biju Chhatra Janata Dal president Ipsita Sahu came down heavily on the state government.
The BJD alleged that the Chief Minister and Ministers are putting pressure on Vice Chancellors and Principals of various colleges by calling them to reject nomination papers of BJD-backed candidates and support BJP candidates.
MLA Byomkesh Ray said student elections are to be held as per the Lyngdoh Committee Report. But this year, the BJP government is holding elections in violation of those rules. The Chief Minister and Ministers are calling Vice Chancellors, Registrars and Principals to ensure victory of candidates supported by the ruling party, he alleged.
He further alleged that while contesting candidates are required to have minimum 75 percent attendance, otherwise their nominations are to be rejected, in many places attendance records are being altered to protect BJP candidates who do not meet the criteria. Political pressure is being exerted to reject nominations of BJD-supported candidates, and where BJP does not find suitable candidates, elections are being deliberately cancelled, Ray alleged.
Pritiranjan Ghadai alleged that the government has launched a concerted effort to tilt results in favour of ABVP and BJP is trying to win student elections through unfair means. Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik has expressed concern that rights of future generations are being violated, he said.
Biju Yuva Janata Dal president Chinmaya Sahu claimed that despite elections being announced in a hurry, BJD will win 80 percent of campuses across the state. While there is a rule capping expenditure at Rs 5,000 per candidate, lakhs of rupees are being spent, he alleged.
Biju Chhatra Janata Dal president Ipsita Sahu alleged that Vice Chancellors, Principals, Professors and other employees are working to ensure victory of BJP-backed candidates. The government should refrain from such biased actions, otherwise BJD will launch strong protests, she warned.
