Dhamnagar bypoll: BJD moves poll panel alleging violence by BJP

Alleging violence by the Bharatiya Janata Party members in Dhamnagar bypoll campaign, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Monday lodged a complaint with the State Election Commission.

A BJD delegation led by party spokesperson, Lenin Mohanty visited the Commission and urged the Chief Electoral Officer, Sushil Lohani, to increase the surveillance to refrain the BJP from using force in the bypoll.

Speaking to the reporters, Mohanty said, “A team from BJD has come here to meet the Chief Electoral Officer. The BJP IT Cell had earlier released a fake audio to throw us under the bus. But that ploy did not work.”

“When they felt that all their ploys have become futile, they have now resorted to muscle flexing. We have lodged a complaint regarding this with the CEO urging him to increase the surveillance,” Mohanty added.

The BJD has alleged that BJP members have recently attacked a voter in Dhamnagar Assembly Constituency and snatched money from him.

The bypoll for Dhamnagar Assembly Constituency is scheduled for November 3 and the counting and result will be declared on November 6.

Earlier, the Odisha Election Commission had registered two FIRs against two women in the cash for vote allegations during the election campaign for Dhamnagar bypolls.

(Reported By Jagdish Das, OTV)