EC lens on poll ambassador Dutee for ‘supporting’ Achyuta

Bhubaneswar: Sprinter Dutee Chand, appointed as one of the poll ambassadors in the state by the Election Commission (EC) to spread awareness among voters and conduct sensitisation drive for the assembly and Lok Sabha elections, found herself on the wrong lane for a social media post in favour of BJD’s Kandhamal Lok Sabha candidate, Achyuta Samanta.
The incident has forced the election commission to launch an inquiry following the BJP’s allegation that Dutee campaigned for Samanta on Facebook. “We are verifying the allegation. An ambassador involved in such things, if true, is unhealthy. We can clarify only after an investigation,” chief electoral officer Surendra Kumar said.

On Wednesday, in a Facebook post, Dutee wrote, “I wish best of luck to my dear god figure Dr Achyuta Samanta Sir. I pray to the almighty for your victory in the second phase of election on April 18. I am confident that people in Kandhamal will vote for you in large numbers for overall development in the area.” Dutee, who was a student at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, founded by Achyuta, had won a silver medal each in 100 and 200 metres at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. Taking note of her social media post, written in Odia, the BJP drew the attention of the chief electoral officer. “What we have been complaining about @OdishaCeo has been proved right once again, that he is a lame duck and agent of @bjd_odisha. Now CEO brand ambassador @DuteeChand is campaigning for BJD. Dutee Chand should be immediately blacklisted from being any kind of brand ambassador,” senior BJP leader Lekhasri Samantsinghar tweeted.

Denying charges of being biased, EC officials said an inquiry has been ordered. “We are verifying Dutee’s social media content. Action will be taken if she violated election commissions rules related to state icons,” an election commission official said.

Amid the controversy, Dutee denied having campaigned for Achyuta. “I never appealed to voters nor sought votes for anyone, including Achyuta Sir. Personally, I wished him luck as he had played a key role in my sports career. He is like god for me. The matter should not be politicized,” she said.

Asked about the row Dutee’s post has triggered, BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra refused to comment.