Tension arose in Khariar Road within the Nuapada Assembly segment on Friday after a raid took place at the rented home of BJD senior general secretary and former minister Priti Ranjan Gharai, a prominent campaigner for the opposition party. Officials conducted the raid in the presence of a Magistrate, accompanied by armed security personnel. Angered by the raid, BJD workers and leaders attempted to block the convoy, questioning the timing and motives behind the action. A video showing party members confronting the Magistrate and asking for the order behind the raid went viral on social media, escalating discontent within the party. However, the authenticity of the video could not be independently confirmed.
Reports suggested that the searches were prompted by allegations of a substantial amount of cash being stored at Gharai’s rental residence. BJD senior vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra condemned the action, claiming it was executed without a search warrant or legitimate cause. Mishra stated, “The raid team claimed to be acting on the Election Commission’s orders but failed to present an official document.” He noted that the raid occurred while Gharai was absent, as he was engaged in election campaigning at his panchayat. Previously, police had conducted similar searches at the Congress office in Nuapada, which faced backlash from opposition parties.
During a press conference in Bhubaneswar, BJD leaders called for disciplinary action against the Nuapada District Collector, who also acts as the District Election Officer, and the Superintendent of Police. A party delegation submitted a petition to Chief Electoral Officer R S Goapalan, accusing these officials of misusing administrative resources to benefit the ruling BJP. BJD leader Lenin Mohanty claimed, “The ruling BJP, fearing loss, has resorted to unethical practices and has even sent leaders from Chhattisgarh to mislead voters. After the DGP’s visit to Nuapada, local police received unwritten directives to support the BJP.
Consequently, the Collector and the SP began acting in a biased manner, intimidating BJD leaders and workers while trying to sway voters.” He also alleged that about 500 individuals transported from Chhattisgarh by the BJP have posed as police officers to intimidate voters and BJD supporters in the area. In response to the BJD’s claims, BJP leader Manoj Mohapatra stated, “BJD leaders must grasp fundamental principles. During elections, when the Model Code of Conduct is in effect, the administration and police operate under the Election Commission’s jurisdiction. Neither the party nor the State government is involved in the raid on the BJD leader’s rented residence in Nuapada.