While OJM leader Pyarimohan Mohapatra has been accused of

having Maoist link by Lokdal leader, now OJM students wing leader has made allegation against the Chief Minister and School and Mass Education minister. Earlier on February 18, senior BJD MLA and former Minister Pradeep Maharathy had raised the issue in the assembly and demanded a clarification from the Chief Minister. Stating that the allegations were serious, Congress member S S Saluja alleged Maoist were campaigning for the ruling BJD candidates during the panchayat elections. Meanwhile, both School and Mass Education ministers Rabi Narayan Nanda and MP Pyarimohan Mohapatra have dubbed the allegations as politically motivated. The alleged Maoist link of BJD leaders came to the fore after police arrested OJM member Sangram Mahanty on charge of supplying arms to Maoists. Thereafter, police also arrested Sangram's father Dandapani Mohanty on charge of his involvement in some Maoist violences. Both father-son duo are presently lodged in separate jails.