The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday knocked at the door of the State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and complained against major regional news channel OTV alleging that the channel is airing “paid news” in favour of the BJP and its candidate in the Bijepur Assembly by-poll.
Senior BJD leaders Pratap Keshari Deb and Surjya Narayan Patro met CEO Surendra Kumar and alleged that the OTV is broadcasting news favouring BJP candidate Ashok Panigrahi to ensure his win in the by-poll scheduled on February 24.
The news channel is airing news items, breaking news, panel discussions, debates and special programmes relating to the by-poll promoting the BJP and its candidate, they alleged.
The BJD demanded that the CEO intervene and take stringent action against the OTV to ensure a level-playing field for all other candidates in the by-poll as the Election Commission of India has clearly set expenditure limits for every contesting candidate.
The expenditure on the publicity for the BJP must be adjusted in the poll expenses of the candidate, the BJD further demanded.
However, the OTV refuted the charges stating that the allegations made by the BJD are false and baseless.
The OTV has a reputation of catering unbiased news for last two decades since its inception and it does not believe in the concept of paid news, the channel claimed.
