Cong demands Orissa Speaker's resignation

Bhubaneswar, Feb 8 (UNI) The Congress in Orissa today demanded resignation of state assembly Speaker Maheswar Mohanty on moral grounds for violating the model code of conduct for the Panchayat elections in the state.

Former Congress Parliament member Pinaki Mishra, Pradesh Congress Committee General secretaries Prasad Harichandan and Umma Ballav Rath have alleged that Mr Mohanty used his ''office, staff and vehicle'' for the ruling Biju Janata Dal in the elections to the three-tier bodies in the state.

The Congress leaders told newsmen here that the Speaker has used the Puri sadar block office as an election office for the ruling BJD and moving in areas promising various projects and houses under the Indira Awas Yojana.

Citing an incident, they said an assembly vehicle intercepted by the Congress activists at Chandanpur on February 6, was found carrying election materials of the BJD party.

The Congress leaders said though the police had seized the vehicle and the sub-collector initiated action in connection with the incident, a false FIR had been lodged by the driver of the vehicle at the instance of the police to hush up the matter.

Mr Rath, who submitted a memorandum to Governor Rameswar Thakur, urged him to intervene in the matter and direct the state government to transfer the Sub-Collector, the Puri Sadar Circle Inspector and the Chandanpur officer-in-Charge for directly campaigning and supporting the Speaker.

He also submitted that the Speaker should be asked to resign from his present responsibility for violating the code of conduct of the Panchayat elections and misusing his offices for party purposes.

UNI