Bhubaneswar: The primary opposition party, Biju Janata Dal (BJD), on Tuesday requested the immediate intervention of Odisha’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), alleging that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) breached the Model Code of Conduct on the day of voting. The BJD claimed that BJP workers entered polling booths in Nuapada and applied undue pressure on voters to support party candidate Jay Dholakia. It was further alleged that near various polling stations, BJP members distributed food packets to voters in an effort to sway them. Nuapada district BJD president Abani Joshi submitted a memorandum to the District Election Officer, the Collector of Nuapada, demanding prompt action.
“I bring to your urgent notice a blatant and systematic violation of the Model Code of Conduct and electoral laws by workers of the BJP on the day of polling in the Nuapada Assembly constituency. The BJP workers have set up temporary tiffin distribution counters and are providing free tiffin to voters in line to cast their votes,” Joshi stated in the memorandum submitted to the DEO. Additionally, during a press conference, BJD spokesperson and media coordinator Lenin Mohanty accused BJP leaders and workers of completely ignoring all rules and restrictions during the ongoing voting process. He further alleged that they were forcefully remaining inside polling stations, intimidating voters, and coercing them to vote for Jay Dholakia.
Such incidents have been reported from booth numbers 3, 4, 5, 13, 14, and 15 under Khariar Road NAC of the Nuapada Assembly constituency. Mohanty also accused government officials present of failing to take action despite witnessing these violations, suggesting that they appeared to be favoring the BJP candidate.