Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has lashed out at senior BJP leader Pradip Purohit for his claims about purchase of 10,000 votes in Odisha’s bypoll-bound Padampur in last elections, and said such baseless allegation was an insult to the people of the Assembly constituency.
Asking Purohit to produce evidence to back the allegation, BJD state Secretary Raju Ghibela said the former MLA has made false and wild charges fearing defeat in Padampur where he has been fielded by BJP for the December 5 bypoll.
Stressing that the people of Padampur always maintain their integrity, dignity and self-respect, Ghibela said the statement made by the senior BJP leader was an insult to them. “People of Padampur never sell their votes. They never cast votes for money,” the BJD leader said.
Terming Purohit’s statement as unfortunate, Ghibela said the people of the constituency will give a befitting answer to the BJP leader and his party for his insulting statement.
The BJD leader’s reaction came two days after Purohit alleged that 10,0000 votes were sold in the constituency during the last elections.
He had also alleged that the ruling BJD is deciding the Congress candidate for Padampur bypoll with an eye on the divided votes of Congress by using this formula.
The by-election to Padampur Assembly Constituency in Bargarh district is being held on December 5 following the demise of tribal leader and five-time MLA Bijay Ranjan Singh Bariha.
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