BJD accuses Jual Oram of election fund irregularities

Bhubaneswar, July 29 (IANS) With the BJP upping the ante against Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over alleged poll funding irregularities, the ruling BJD on Saturday countered the charges and levelled dubious poll funding allegations against Union Minister Jual Oram.

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) alleged discrepancies in the election affidavit of Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram and sought his resignation on moral grounds.

"There are severe discrepancies in the affidavit of Jual Oram submitted to the Election Commission of India (ECI) after the 2014 polls. We will move the ECI and may resort to knocking the door of the court seeking action against Oram," said BJD MP Pinaki Mishra.

Mishra, a senior Supreme Court lawyer, said the Tribal Affairs Minister should tender his resignation on moral grounds for filing a false affidavit.

He said there were discrepancies in the declaration of funds received through cheque and cash in the affidavit.

He accused the BJP of attempting to malign the image of BJD and its President Naveen Patnaik.

"Naveen Patnaik never believes in personal attack in politics, but the BJP is stooping low and targeting Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and disseminating misleading information for its political gains," said Mishra.

BJD's Rajya Sabha MP Pratap Deb also countered the BJP's dubious poll funding allegations and questioned the Union Minister's election expenses.

"This is the tip of the iceberg. We will open more such cases against the BJP if it continues to attack the BJD and our President Naveen Patnaik. The allegations levelled by the BJP are politically motivated and only to malign our party," said Deb.

The BJP has moved the Election Commission of India, Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax department seeking a probe into the BJD's election funding.