A BJP candidate found himself in legal trouble in Odisha's Khurda district after purportedly damaging an EVM due to an extended wait in the voting queue caused by a malfunction, officials stated on Sunday.
Prashant Jagdev, the BJP MLA representing Chilika, was fielded this time from the Khurda assembly segment. The incident occurred on Saturday at booth 114 in Bolagad block's Kaunripatna, within the Begunia assembly segment where Jagdev is registered to vote.
Accompanied by his wife, Jagdev encountered an EVM malfunction, resulting in a delay in casting his ballot. Tensions escalated into a verbal confrontation between Jagdev and the presiding officer.
Allegedly, in the midst of the altercation, Jagdev forcefully removed the EVM from the table, causing it to fall and break, according to officials.
Superintendent of Police Avinash Kumar confirmed the MLA's arrest based on a complaint from the presiding officer. Subsequently, Jagdev was remanded to judicial custody and is currently held at Khurda jail, as per officials.
Besides the Representation of People's Act, Jagdev faces charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, stated the SP.
In his complaint, the presiding officer alleged that Jagdev created a disturbance, obstructed the voting process, and verbally abused polling personnel, Kumar noted.
"We have requested the District Election Officer (DEO) to review CCTV footage of the incident," he said, emphasizing that an investigation is underway.
A BJP leader claimed the allegations against Jagdev were politically motivated.
"The presiding officer misbehaved with several voters and did the same with the MLA," he alleged.
The state's ruling BJD also filed a complaint with the chief electoral officer (CEO), seeking stern action against Jagdev.
"He attacked the polling personnel in the booth and then fled the spot by hiding in the vehicle of Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi," BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra alleged.
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