Bhubaneswar/Angul, Sept. 3: Steel and mines minister Rajanikant Singh is in a soup following the State Election Commission’s direction to lodge an FIR in connection with an alleged misuse of office in the secretariat.

It was alleged that a fax containing the list of BJD candidates contesting civic polls in Angul, Singh’s Assembly constituency, was sent from his office to the district collector on August 21.

Singh had said his office had no knowledge about the fax message. The Angul Municipality is going to the urban poll on September 19.

The Opposition alleged that the minister’s office had been used for election purposes and the action violated the model code of conduct, which has been in force since August 12. The purpose of sending the fax is yet to be ascertained. The last day for submitting nomination papers was August 24.

The state government, on the commission’s recommendation, shifted Angul collector Arvind Agarwal and put his personal assistant under suspension on September 1.

“The commission has asked the minister’s office to find out the suspects behind the whole process and submit an action taken report within two days,” said an official.

The Opposition, however, has stepped up pressure, demanding Singh’s resignation for violating the model code of conduct. Hundreds of BJP workers, led by former MP Rudra Narayan Pany, today staged a dharna in front of the Angul collectorate, demanding immediate expulsion of the minister from the cabinet.

“Singh had sent the fax from his office. If he is not sacked, we cannot expect a free election. It is surprising that while the person to whom the letter was faxed got punished, the man who sent it has gone scot-free. We will intensify the agitation if he does not step down,” said Pany. They also submitted a memorandum to district authorities addressing it to governor S.C. Jamir.

State Congress president Jaydev Jena also demanded action against Singh. A Congress delegation today met election commissioner Ajit Tripathy and alleged that the chief minister had violated the model code of conduct by inaugurating a number of projects in Bhubaneswar on September 1.

Sources said the commission was of the view that the chief minister had not violated the model code of conduct as he did not inaugurate any scheme, which could sway the voters’ opinion.