Gopalpur MLA and BJP candidate for the Berhampur Lok Sabha seat, Pradeep Panigrahy, raised concerns on Wednesday during a meeting with the chief electoral officer (CEO). He filed a complaint against the state government for withdrawing his security. Panigrahy, accompanied by a BJP delegation led by senior leader Sajjan Sharma, expressed frustration over what he sees as the state government’s negligence towards his safety. He mentioned that this comes after two attempts on his life, one on August 15, 2022, and another on August 25, 2023.
Speaking to reporters, Panigrahy highlighted the alarming situation in Ganjam, the home district of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. He pointed out that violence has been a recurring issue, especially before elections. In 2023 alone, over 100 murder cases were reported, and this year has already seen 13 such cases. Hinjili, the constituency of the Chief Minister, is particularly infamous during election times.
Panigrahy voiced the concerns of voters in the constituency, stating that they do not feel safe due to what he described as the ‘goondaraj’ (rule of hooligans) by BJD workers. He alleged that dissent against the ruling party is not tolerated, and BJD workers act as enforcers of this stance. Panigrahy further claimed that all senior officers in the district are aligned with the BJD, creating an environment of fear and intimidation.
According to Panigrahy, a senior police officer has been intimidating dissatisfied leaders and workers of the BJD with severe repercussions if they consider leaving the party. In a memorandum submitted during the meeting, the BJP also named several senior police officers allegedly working in favor of the BJD, in violation of the norms set by the Election Commission.
These actions and allegations by Panigrahy and the BJP shed light on the challenging political landscape in Ganjam, emphasizing the need for fair and secure elections where all parties can participate without fear.
