Election Commission to issue show cause notices to BJD, BJP in Odisha

The Election Commission will issue show cause notices to the ruling BJD and opposition BJP in Odisha for publishing advertisements in newspapers after the end of the campaign for the second and last phase of polls, in violation of the model code.

"Show cause notices will be issued to the general secretaries of BJP and BJD for violation of poll code which is in force for the second phase elections in the state," Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Hariballav Mishra told reporters here.

"The Commission will seek replies from both the parties for violating section 126 (B) of Representation of People's Act," he said. BJD General Secretary Narendra Swain, however, said "We will verify the content of the notice. BJD has not violated the model code of conduct by releasing advertisements." He contended that though parties could not release campaign material in the electronics media, there was no such bar on releasing advertisements in print.

The BJD had also recently drawn the attention of the the EC alleging that the BJP had violated model code of conduct by publishing advertisements after the campaign ended for the first phase of polls.