Bhubaneswar, Nov 11: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Tuesday strongly demanded the immediate intervention of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Odisha, accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of gross violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in the Nuapada Assembly Constituency. 

According to the BJD, BJP workers reportedly entered several polling booths and exerted direct pressure on voters to support the party’s candidate, Jai Dholakia, even as voting was underway.

The BJD further alleged that BJP members were distributing food packets near multiple polling stations in a clear attempt to influence the electorate. Nuapada District BJD President Abani Joshi formally submitted a memorandum to the District Election Officer (DEO) and the Collector of Nuapada, highlighting these alleged violations. Joshi stated that temporary tiffin distribution counters had been set up by BJP workers to lure voters waiting in queues.

Addressing a press conference, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty alleged that BJP leaders were openly flouting election rules, forcefully staying inside polling booths and intimidating voters at booth numbers 3, 4, 5, 13, 14, and 15 under Khariar Road NAC. He claimed that officials at the booths failed to intervene, raising questions about their neutrality.

Voting is currently underway at 358 polling booths in Nuapada, including 47 sensitive and eight highly sensitive booths, with security tightened across the constituency.

Powered by Froala Editor