The Congress party office set on fire at Kajala in Kendrapara municipality. Telegraph picture

Kendrapara, Nov. 8: Criminals set ablaze a makeshift election office of the Congress, triggering tension at some of the urban wards, which are going to polls on November 15.

While the Congress charged that it was the handiwork of hooligans owing allegiance to the BJD, security has been stepped up in the district headquarters township ahead of the civic body polls.

“The party has set up temporary offices at all the 21 wards of the municipality. One of such offices located at Kajala under ward No. 21 was set on fire by BJD-supported goons. The party workers, who used to congregate here after canvassing, found the office vandalised,” said president of district congress committee Debendra Nath Sharma.

A complaint has been lodged in connection with the incident. However, police are yet to arrest the culprits. Sharma has also drawn the attention of the State Election Commission with regard to such unlawful activities being unleashed by the BJD.

“The incident is being investigated. Congress candidate Lodhi Tudu from ward No. 21 has accused the BJD workers of setting the election office on fire. A case has been registered under Section 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage) of the Indian Penal Code. Investigation, done so far, is yet to come out with definite clue on the alleged involvement of the BJD workers,” said inspector of Kendrapara police station Ranjan Kumar Dey.

District wing chief of the BJD Krutibash Patra, however, dismissed the allegation by saying: “The party believes in democratic norms and spirit. The party is in no way connected to the incident at Kajala.”

“The ruling party has made a mockery of the model code of conduct for the election. The government machineries were being rampantly misused while the district election office was looking the other way, said Sharma.

The State Election Commission has been apprised of cases of violation of the model code of conduct enforced for the polls. The civic body officials are engaged in disbursing subsidised loans to women self-help groups despite prohibition on such activity. Work for spreading out drinking water pipelines was going on at ward No. 8 and ward No. 11 in violation of the model conduct, he said.