Odisha BJP Puts Question Mark On Transparency Of Upcoming Panchayat Polls

The Odisha unit of BJP has put a question mark on the transparency of the forthcoming Panchayat elections in the State.

The saffron party has expressed serious doubts over the preparation of the voter lists.

“Collectors and BDOs in the State, who have the responsibility to conduct elections, are dilly-dallying to publish the voter lists so far. There is no transparency in the preparation of the voter lists and so there are also concerns that it might influence the poll results," said BJP spokesperson Golak Mohapatra.

The senior BJP leader has also demanded that Odisha Election Commission should step in to ensure transparency in the preparation of the voter lists.

“Names of many voters are missing in the lists. In the name of reservation the dates of the voter lists have also been gambled. Except Jajpur, voter lists of the other districts are yet to be published. Odisha Election Commission should intervene to ensure transparency in this regard,” he said.

Though the dates for the crucial Panchayat polls are still to be announced, they are expected to be held earlier this year.

The Odisha Congress had urged the Odisha Election Commission to postpone the forthcoming Panchayat and Municipal elections in the State in view of the rapid spike in the number of Covid-19 cases.
 

(Edited by Suryakant Jena)