The Odisha finance minister Prasanna Acharya, who is literally number two in the  Naveen Patnaik led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) cabinet, is now in a middle of a controversy for allegedly threatening voters to ‘stop funding’ to civic bodies if they voted in favour of political parties other that the BJD in Friday’s election.

The state election commission (SEC) has served a showcause notice on the FM to explain why he gave such a statement violating the election code of conduct. The SEC has also asked the Bargargh district collector to submit a report on the incident by November 23. Acharya has been also asked to reply to the showcause notice by November 28.

The SEC stated in the showcause that while campaigning for BJD candidate in Ward N. 19 of Bargarh civic body elections, Acharya had reported to have said that he would stop releasing funds if they did not vote for BJD.

“I am the Finance Minister and will lock the treasury if you vote for the hand symbol (Congress).” He had reportedly to have said.

Speaking to Governance Now, he refused to elaborate on the controversial issue, Acharya, however, said that he will reply to the showcause at the right time. Till now he has not received the showcause notice from the SEC. He said the complaint filed against him with the SEC is distorted. “I have never said anything like that in a public meeting while campaigning in Bargarh. However, in a party meeting held there I had asked the party workers to campaign rigorously so that all the seats are won by BJD candidates,” he said.

Meanwhile, separate delegations of Congress and the Bhartya Janata Party (BJP) met the State Election Commissioner Ajit Kumar Tripathy on Thursday evening and submitted a memorandum seeking immediate action against the Finance Minister who allegedly violated the model code of conduct.

In its memorandum, the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) alleged that the speech of Acharya was highly unconstitutional, malafide and illegal which undoubtedly violated the model code of conduct. OPCC demanded that election to Bargarh Urban Local Body should be set aside and a case filed against the Finance Minister.

The Minister’s statement is a sign of desperation to win election by any means, media cell chairman of the Congress Narsingh Mishra said. Leader of the opposition and Congress MLA Bhupinder Singh said the incident is most unfortunate. “There has been total violation of the Constitution of India in this case and the Chief Minister is not reacting as elections are going on in the state,” he said. It is the moral responsibility of the CM to take action against the minister. If the SEC has called for the CD and the party will wait as to what action the election commission is taking. If the SEC does not take any action the Congress party will approach the Governor.

The state BJP in its memorandum has requested the SEC to direct the chief minister Naveen Patnaik to dismiss Acharya for violating the model code of conduct.  Anil Dhir, convener of the media cell of BJP said that his party has protested in front of the SEC against the minister. He said the BJD has shown might is right and the misuse of official machinery and government officials for the party has been proved once again. “The minister is cocking a snoop at all the rules in a brazen and unbashed manner violating the election code of conduct,” he said. The election commissioner has played a partisan role in both the phases of ULB elections, he added.

In another case, in what is a gross violation of model code of conduct by the ruling party, campaign material of BJD along with alcohol were seized from a private vehicle just outside Patnagarh town on Wednesday night, hours after election campaigning officially came to an end.

Patnagarh police has taken custody of the vehicle, which was intercepted during a regular blocking exercise outside Patnagarh NAC limits. Sources said when the police stopped the vehicle at check post, two BJD MLAs were reportedly travelling along with some party workers. However, given the sensitive nature of the case, the two were allowed to leave.

Meanwhile, the high voltage campaign to 20 ULB in Western Odisha came to an end on Wednesday. Electioneering for the polls reached feverish pitch when the CM launched his campaign from Bargarh district. Patnaik addressed three public meetings at Brajarajnagar, Jharsuguda and Deogarh on Thursday.