Bhubaneswar, Jan. 18: The BJP today landed in an embarrassing situation after police arrested a party activist for detaining a blanket-laden truck at Lalapara in Raighar block of Nabarangpur district on January 14.

The activists seized the truck, alleging that the blankets were meant to be distributed among the people who would be voting in the panchayat elections. A BJP delegation had met the State Election Commission, demanding action against the BJD.

Raighar inspector-in-charge Narendra Kumar Majhi said: "One Pintu Bansal had brought the blankets from Raipur in Chhattisgarh to Umerkote on the basis of a work order issued by the district collector. The blankets were meant to be distributed among SC and ST students."

He said: "We have arrested Jagannath Mali, a BJP worker, and will arrest some others in this connection. Party workers should have checked the papers before detaining the truck."

The BJP, however, retorted: "Why was the truck parked in the house of one of the relatives of Umerkote's BJD MLA? Is it a crime to hand over a truck loaded with blankets to the police?" asked BJP state vice-president Samir Mohanty.

Mohanty said: "When our people tried to check the veracity of the consignment, the driver tried to leave the place. That led to suspicion."

In another development, the BJD lodged a complaint with the commission, accusing Union minister of state for petroleum Dharmendra Pradhan of violating the model code of conduct during his visit to the Dhenkanal Government (Autonomous) College students' union. Pradhan had announced signing of an agreement to set up Rs 20,000-crore worth thermal power and aluminium plants and other projects.

Commission sources said despite Maoist threat, 12 candidates had filed their nomination papers for the posts of panchayat samiti and zilla parishad members from five gram panchayats located in the cut-off areas of Malkangiri.

The nomination papers were, however, filed from Chitrakonda block and Malkangiri district headquarters instead of the respective gram panchayats. But, not a single nomination paper for ward member and sarpanch posts has been filed from the cut-off area, a Maoist-dominated belt, so far.

Commission sources said the nomination papers of Nachika Linga, the leader of Chhasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha, a Maoist-supported outfit, were rejected as he had failed to submit the caste certificate.