Bhubaneswar: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Odisha has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) accusing a senior IPS officer, D S Kutey, of allegedly favoring the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. The BJP alleges that Kutey’s actions violate the model code of conduct, raising concerns about impartiality in the electoral process.
According to the BJP delegation, which visited the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in Bhubaneswar to submit the petition, Kutey has purportedly been involved in election campaigning in support of the BJD, despite holding a senior position in the CM’s office for the past nine years. The party claims that Kutey has been pressuring public officers, particularly Superintendents of Police (SPs) and Inspector-In-Charges (IICs), to favor the BJD through various means, including transportation and distribution of cash.
Despite attempts to obtain comments from both Kutey and the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), no response has been received regarding the allegations.
The BJP further asserts that police have been allegedly reluctant to register FIRs on complaints filed by opposition parties while promptly taking action on those lodged by BJD members. The party suggests that monitoring Kutey’s call records could reveal his involvement in overseeing the BJD’s election campaign, potentially violating Section 129 of the Representation of People Act, 1951, which prohibits public servants from engaging in political activities.
Seeking intervention from the ECI, the BJP urges the commission to conduct a study and analysis of the call records of implicated officers and restrain them from political activities. Additionally, the party calls for legal action against Kutey and requests his transfer to another state to ensure the integrity and fairness of the electoral process in Odisha.
The ECI is yet to respond to the BJP’s petition, but the allegations underscore growing concerns about the neutrality of officials during election seasons, highlighting the need for vigilance and transparency in the democratic process. Further updates on this matter are awaited as the election cycle progresses.
