BJD poll funding : HC to conduct hearing on Ganjam DM’s plea on July 27

Bhubaneswar:26/7/17: The Orissa High Court would hold its final hearing on July 27 on the recall petition filed by Ganjam district Collector in connection with the alleged poll funding irregularities by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

The Collector in his petition cited that notice issued by the court to the Election Commission of India is wrong and approached the court to withdraw its order. In its short hearing today, the court has given us time to reply on the petition.

While putting his stance in favour of State Government, the Advocate General appealed to the court not to entertain the root petition as the petitioner does not belong to CM’s constituency.”

Meanwhile, the BJP intensified its attack on the BJD by approaching the State Election Commission to scrap the Assembly membership of the Chief Minister for allegedly misusing Government machineries over the alleged irregularities in his party’s poll funding expenditure.

The delegation which submitted a memorandum to the SEC addressed to the Election Commission of India alleged that the State Government considered the case against Hinjili MLA Naveen Patnaik as a case against the CM and used the Government machinery accordingly in the case.  Demanding a three-year restriction on Patnaik from contesting poll, the BJP team also sought stern action against him after inquiry into the alleged misappropriation of funds under the Representation of the People’s Act.