Dhamnagar Bypoll: BJP Demands Ban On Use Of Cellphone Inside Polling Booths

Bhubaneswar: Continuing its cash-for-vote allegation against BJD, the BJP on Friday demanded before Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to ban use of mobile phone during voting in the byelection to Dhamnagar Assembly seat.

A delegation of Odisha unit of BJP led by general secretary Lekhashri Samantsinghar made this demand in a memorandum submitted to CEO SK Lohani on Friday.

The opposition party alleged that the BJD was alluring the voters by saying that it would give anybody who would produce the photo of voting in favour of the ruling party in the bypoll. There have been several instances of the BJD giving money for votes in earlier elections, it added.

Since it is a violation of election code of conduct, the BJP demanded the CEO to impose a ban on taking cellphones inside the polling booths.

The saffron party also claimed that the members of women self-help groups (SHGs) were distributing national food security card having the logo of BJD. The SHG members were given Rs 30 for giving each card, it added.

Questioning why such cards were distributed only in Dhamnagar in Bhadrak district and who had given the order for the distribution, the party demanded a ban on such activities till the byelection was over.

It may be noted that the BJP had earlier complained to the CEO alleging that the BJD was organising the meetings of SHGs under the Mission Shakti programme and engaging government employees deployed for election work to distribute money among them to give to the voters. The opposition party had demanded the CEO to prevent deployment of local Mission Shakti women and Anganwadi workers for election related works.