BJP moves ECI seeking disqualification of Naveen as MLA

Highlights

• BJP alleges Naveen Patnaik filed a false affidavit during the 2014 polls
• BJD terms the move of BJP ‘politically motivated’

New Delhi: A delegation of BJP on Thursday met the Election Commission of India (ECI) seeking disqualification of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik as MLA for allegedly filing a false affidavit on poll expenses during the 2014 polls in Odisha.

The saffron party team led by national spokesperson Sambit Patra met the ECI and reiterated its allegation of Patnaik giving a false affidavit to the ECI on his poll expenses.

Alleging discrepancies in the figures provided by the BJD about its election expenditure, the Odisha unit of BJP on Tuesday had also moved the State Election Commission (SEC) and demanded to scrap of Naveen’s Assembly membership.

Prior to this, they had met the Income Tax Commissioner on Monday and had requested him to conduct a thorough inquiry into the BJD’s account.

On the other hand, the ruling BJD rubbished the charges.

BJD spokesperson Pratap Deb said the meeting of BJP delegation with ECI is politically motivated as the saffron party is trying to defame BJD and its supremo.