Bhubaneswar: Allegations of booth capturing and minor skirmishes were reported in some places, including Salepur and Mahanga, during voting for the 4th and last phase of Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha on Saturday.
Though polling began at 7 am on a peaceful note, stray incidents were reported after voting progressed.
While rigging was alleged in at least five booths in Mahanga, similar claims of booth capturing were made in Salepur. Stray incidents of violence were reported near two booths in Salepur and another near Konark. Some BJP workers were reported to have sustained injuries after ruling party activists allegedly clashed with them during polling.
In Salepur, BJP candidate Arindam Roy brought booth capturing allegation against BJD at a booth at Lunahar in the Assembly constituency. The allegation came after a high drama near booth No. 228 when the actor-turned-politician had gone there.
Sources said a clash broke out at a booth in after the BJP candidate raised the issue of voting allegedly done by BJD workers for elderly voters.
Arindam said following reports of EVM glitches, he had gone to the booth and found over ten youths inside. They were taking elderly voters and casting their votes.
“When I objected to the act of casting votes on behalf of others, some BJD activists reached the spot and created ruckus,” he claimed.
The BJP candidate said he would bring the matter to the notice of ADM, SDPO and demand appropriate action.
Stressing that the election should be held in a peaceful manner, he said the way BJD ‘goons’ are guarding the gate and the booth, a special arrangement should be made to check this.
He said he has already lodged complaints regarding similar incidents at six more booths.
Booth capturing was also alleged at some booths in Mahanga. BJP activists alleged that workers of the ruling BJD indulged in rigging in at least five polling booths.
They claimed that votes were cast for elderly voters by other people at booth Nos. 116, 176, 85, 184 and 185.
No reaction was immediately available either from senior officials or BJD leaders.
Meanwhile, the ruling BJD moved the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) alleging violation of model code of conduct (MCC) by BJP’s Jagatsinghpur Lok Sabha candidate Bibhu Prasad Tarai.
In a petition to the CEO, they alleged that Tarai campaigned during the ‘ban’ period and solicited votes through a Facebook post, contravening the guidelines set forth by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
