Odisha

Panchayat Polls: Changes In Ballot Counting Rules To Promote Rigging, Say BJP & Cong

By
OB Bureau

Bhubaneswar: A day after the Panchayatiraj department issued a draft notification amending the Odisha Gram Panchayat Election Rules 1965, opposition BJP and Congress alleged that it is an attempt of the BJD to promote election rigging.

Speaking to media persons, here on Saturday, Sankarshan Parida, state coordinator of  BJP’s Panchayati Raj Samiti, said the provision of counting the ballots at block-level after completion of all phases of the elections is an attempt by the state government to undermine the democratic institutions at grassroots level.

Raising his doubt over the security of the ballot boxes, Parida said, “There is no provision to provide security or strong room to keep over 4 lakh ballot boxes of one lakh booths during the panchayat election in the state.”

While 4-5 booths are opened in every panchayat during Assembly and Lok Sabha election, people cast their votes in 15-30 booths in panchayat polls, he added. Considering the substantial increase in number of booths and ballot boxes, how can the government provide security, he wondered.

Meanwhile, the Congress has also raised objection to the proposed amendment. “The rules have been amended to manipulate the results as the BJD is afraid of its loss in the panchayat elections,” said senior Congress leader and Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati. He demanded that the counting should be done at the polling booths on the day of election.

It may be noted that the Panchayatiraj department on Friday issued a draft notification amending the Odisha Gram Panchayat Election Rules 1965 with a provision of counting the ballots at block-level after completion of all phases of the elections.

Also Read: Panchayat Polls: Odisha Govt Amends Rules On Counting Of Ballots

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

Another Stone Falls From Jagannath Temple At Khallikote In Odisha’s Ganjam

Berhampur: A stone weighing 2 kg fell from the ‘Singhadwara Gumuta’ of the Lord Jagannath…

November 14, 2024

Sunita Williams Dismisses Rumours About Weight Loss, Explains Her ‘Sunken Cheeks’

New Delhi: Recent pictures of Space Station Commander Sunita Williams from the International Space Station…

November 14, 2024

Payal Rohatgi Calls Out Rupali Ganguly For Dating A Married Man

Mumbai: Actress Rupali Ganguly recently filed a Rs 50 crore defamation case against her stepdaughter…

November 14, 2024

National Hockey: Odisha To Clash With Manipur In Semifinals

Chennai: Odisha will face Manipur in the semifinals of the 14th Hockey India Senior Men’s…

November 14, 2024

India To Push Canada For Extradition Of Arrested Khalistani Terrorist Arsh Dalla

New Delhi: India will again ask Canada for the extradition of designated Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Singh…

November 14, 2024

School Dropout From West Bengal Arrested For Practising As Ayurvedic Doctor In Odisha’s Berhampur

Berhampur: Police have arrested a man from West Bengal for allegedly claiming himself to be…

November 14, 2024

Manoj Bajpayee Recalls Staying In ‘Hell’, Experiencing Starvation

Mumbai: Carving a niche for himself in Bollywood was not a cakewalk for ‘The Family…

November 14, 2024

After Disapproving Of Ranveer, Mukesh Khanna Rejects Tiger Shroff For ‘Shakitmaan’

Mumbai: Mukesh Khanna’s Indian superhero series ‘Shaktimaan’ has been making headlines for quite some time…

November 14, 2024