Naveen misused helicopter for party meetings: Congress

Bhubaneswar, Dec 27 (UNI) Keeping in view the ensuing Panchayat elections, Opposition Congress today alleged that the state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has misused helicopter at the cost of state exchequer to attend party functions.

Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee President Jayadev Jena told newsmen here that ''the chief minister, in the name of laying foundation stone, had used the helicopter for a fortnight to attend mostly the party meetings in the state.'' Mr Jena said they had taken strong exception to the telecast of a short film prepared by the state Tourism and Orissa Mining Corporation highlighting BJD party symbol rather than the achievement of the state tourism department.

He further said, ''The election notification, just after the transfer order of several IPS officers, and the ruling BJD's foundation day clearly indicated that the Panchayat elections to be held in February would never be free and fair.'' ''It seemed that the panchayat elections would be conducted by the government rather than the State Election Commission,'' the Congress chief remarked.

Mr Jena alleged that the district collectors and other senior officials of the district were taking active role and engaging the members of the self-help groups to make the visit of the chief minister to the district a success for electioneering.

The District officials were even attending functions arranged by the ruling party.

The Congress, he said, would soon meet the State Election Commissioner and submit a memorandum urging him to restrain the district officials from attending the party meeting.

Mr Jena also warned the officials not to work as ''party workers'' for the BJD-BJP during the elections.

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