A day after the Odisha State Election Commission indicted Finance Minister Prasanna Acharya for violating the model code of conduct, opposition Congress and BJP today demanded his resignation.
"The minister should resign on moral grounds. If he does not, the Chief Minister must sack him as he has also violated the Representation of Peoples Act," OPCC President Jaydev Jena said.
Acharya should be booked under Section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC, Congress Chief Whip Prasad Harichandan said.
Making a similar demand, BJP spokesman Sajan Sharma criticised the SEC for letting off the minister with a warning.
"SEC is not advisor to any political party. Instead of taking action against the minister, SEC has cautioned him," Sharma said
Acharya, however, said, "The leaders of the two national parties should consult their central leadership in this matter. The Election Commission of India has pulled up prominent leaders of both Congress and BJP. They have not resigned."
Acharya, during election campaign at Bargarh for the recent ULB poll, had threatened to stop funds for development if people voted for Congress.
