BJP candidate Ashok Sahu arrested on eve of election

With the Orissa state gearing up for tomorrow's election, the arrest of BJP firebrand candidate Ashok Sahu on Tuesday, brought relief to the shattered Christian community mostly those in relief camps.

The Lok Sabha candidate was arrested while addressing a rally in Phulbani. He has been sent to judicial custody for two weeks after his bail petition was rejected by a court.

Mr. Sahu, who had twice given the slip to the police, was taken into custody while participating in a motorcycle rally with nearly 100 party sufforters at College Square in this district headquarters town of Kandhamal, DIG (Southern Range) R P Koche told PTI.

The retired IPS officer was arrested for his inflammatory speech against Christians accusing the church for plotting the August 23, 2008 assassination of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati.

The arrest was directed by the Election Commission after noting that Sahu had violated model code of conduct at an election rally at Raikia on April 5. He has been booked under four separate sections.

Sahu, also president of state unit of Hindu Jagaran Samukshya (HJS), told his party workers to proceed with the election and "not to do anything which will help Archbishop Raphael Cheenath's demand for postponing the elections in Kandhamal."

The Hindutva leader is now in the district Jail at G. Udaigiri Block, where the party's assembly candidate from the area Manoj Pradhan is already lodged. Interestingly, Manoj Pradhan, who is booked in 10 cases that include seven murders is being fielded as the BJP candidate from G Udaygiri Assembly constituency.

Today, the campaigning for the 10 Lok Sabha and 77 Assembly constituencies of the state, which are going to poll on Thursday, comes to an end.

Official sources said a total of 1,26,38,467 voters are expected to exercise their franchise in 15,045 booths in the first phase on 16 April.

Special arrangements including the issuing of voter ID's have been made for all displaced Christians who wish to cast their votes. Authorities have also promised transportation to ferry Christians to polling stations.