BJD Moves ECI Alleging Malpractice By BJP In Dhamnagar Bypoll In Odisha

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: The ruling BIju Janata Dal (BJD) on Thursday met the Election Commission of India (ECI) in New Delhi and complained against BJP accusing it of indulging in electoral malpractices during campaigning for Dhamnagar Assembly bypoll in Odisha.

BJD’s move came a day after a BJP delegation, led by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, met the ECI in Delhi and accused the Naveen Patnaik-led party of distributing money to lure voters ahead of the November 3 by-election.

In a memorandum to the Commission, the BJD delegation further alleged that BJP leaders and workers are “willfully and maliciously” tarnishing and defaming the image of Mission Shakti Women Self Help Groups (SHG) members.

The delegation, led by senior leader and Lok Sabha MP Chandra Shekhar Sahu, alleged that fake and fictitious videos are being manufactured by Odisha BJP leaders and being circulated in social media claiming that Mission Shakti women SHG members are distributing money in the election.

The BJD delegation also included party MPs Niranjan Bishi, M Khan and Sasmit Patra.

Stating that Odisha has about 70 lakh women as members of six lakh SHGs, the BJD memorandum claimed BJP is not only defaming them and tarnishing their image but also doing a great disservice to the women of Odisha and the nation.

“The statements by the Odisha BJP leaders defaming and tarnishing the image of the Mission Shakti women members marks a new low in electoral politics in India,” it said.

Alleged that huge money power is being used by Odisha BJP leaders and workers to illegally influence the voters of Dhamnagar, the BJD memorandum claimed that whenever BJP fears its electoral defeat, its leaders start pumping in illegal cash to influence voters. “In the past several elections, including the 2022 Panchayat and Urban Local Body elections, huge cache of cash from Odisha BJP leaders have been seized,” it claimed.

Claiming that BJP has become an expert in vilifying and tarnishing the image of the local administration, BJD said they are trying to create a fear psychosis on the local administration to mentally harass them and prevent them from executing their jobs in a free and fair manner.

The BJP in its memorandum demanded that Odisha BJP leaders be restrained from tarnishing the image of the 70 lakh Mission Shakti members by making baseless and false statements.

“The Election Commission of India must intervene to ensure that fake videos being circulated against the Mission Shakti members are stopped,” it said, demanding strict action and strong vigilance to ensure that BJP does not succeed in illegally influencing voters through money power.

Odisha BJP leaders  should be restrained from using media platforms to create a fear psychosis on the local administration by leveling false and concocted allegations against them.