Bhubaneswar, March 14: The Congress today alleged that South Korean steel giant Posco had funded the ruling BJD and BJP candidates in the recent panchayat polls to ensure its defeat.

Addressing a press conference at the party’s state headquarters this evening, Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee president Jaydev Jena alleged that Posco had targeted Congress since the party was supporting the agitation of the displaced people.

However, Posco officials refused to comment on the allegation. “Let’s first check it up,” said an official over phone.

Jena also alleged that several mine owners, business and industrial houses, who had received undue favour from the BJD-BJP government, had heavily funded the ruling coalition in the panchayat polls. “We have prepared a list of such companies and individuals and will send it to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh soon,” said the OPCC chief.

Jena further claimed that the ruling BJD government had resorted to horse-trading in the election for zilla parishad presidents held yesterday. “We would have won the Balasore and Koraput zilla parishad posts but for the horse-trading by the BJD,” he said.

In Koraput, the BJD managed to win the zilla parishad president post due to cross voting. In the 29-member zilla parishad, the Congress had won 15 seats and BJD 14.

Similarly, Balasore witnessed an interesting turnaround when a Congress rebel was elected zilla parishad president with support from the BJD and the BJP

However, BJD general secretary Narendra Swain rubbished the allegations.