Now, BJD Seeks Jual Oram's Scalp For 'False' Poll Expense Affidavit

Bhubaneswar: Ruling BJD in Odisha on Saturday demanded resignation of Union minister and BJP leader Jual Oram accusing him of submitting false affidavit on poll expenditure before the Election Commission (EC).

Oram, who was elected to the Lok Sabha from Sundergarh in Odisha, has denied the charge.

BJD's accusation against the Union Tribal Affairs Minister comes at a time when the BJP is demanding Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's resignation charging him with discrepancies in election expenditure.

"The allegation against me is false, fabricated and politically motivated. I challenge them (BJD) to take the matter to the court," Oram told PTI over phone.

The BJD said it would move the EC and the court seeking action against Oram.

"Oram in the abstract of source of funds raised by candidate said that he spent nil amount from own fund for the election campaigning. But in the Schedule-9 format, he stated that he spent about Rs 2.68 lakh from his own fund," BJD MP Pinaki Mishra and Pratap K Deb alleged in a press conference.

"Isnt it a discrepancy in election expenditure? Oram should resign," the two BJD leaders said.

The press meet was held within hours of the BJP seeking Odisha Governor S C Jamirs intervention into the alleged misuse of official machinery by the BJD government to defend the poll expenditure case against Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who is also the BJD president.

BJP candidate from Hinjili Devadanda Mahapatra, who was defeated by Patnaik, has moved the Orissa High Court alleging that there were discrepancies in Patnaiks election expenditure document submitted to the EC. The high Court is scheduled to hear the case on July 31.

Mishra, also a lawyer, said BJPs allegation against the chief minister "has forced us to bring the matter (allegation against Oram) to the fore".

The Puri Lok Sabha MP claimed several other BJP MPs have committed similar discrepancies in their election expenditure statements submitted to the EC.

"People living in glass house should not throw stones at others," Mishra said.