The principal opposition party, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), on Tuesday demanded the immediate intervention of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Odisha, alleging that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had breached the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) even while voting was underway.
The BJD specifically accused BJP workers of entering polling booths in Nuapada and exerting undue pressure on voters to cast their ballots for the BJP candidate, Jai Dholakia.
It was also alleged that BJP members were attempting to sway voters near several polling stations by distributing free food packets.
Abani Joshi, the BJD President for Nuapada District, submitted a memorandum to the District Election Officer (DEO) and Collector of Nuapada, calling for swift action.
In the memorandum, Joshi stated: “I bring to your urgent notice a blatant and systematic violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and electoral laws by workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the day of polling in the Nuapada Assembly Constituency. BJP workers have set up temporary tiffin distribution counters and are distributing free tiffin to voters queuing up to cast their votes.”
Joshi has demanded prompt and strict action from the DEO regarding this "serious and sensitive matter."
Concurrently, BJD spokesperson and media coordinator Lenin Mohanty held a press conference where he alleged that BJP leaders and workers were completely disregarding all electoral rules and restrictions during the voting process.
He further claimed that BJP members were forcefully remaining inside polling stations, intimidating voters, and pressuring them to vote for Jai Dholakia. Mohanty specified that these incidents have been reported from booth numbers 3, 4, 5, 13, 14, and 15, all within the Khariar Road NAC area of the Nuapada Assembly constituency.
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