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The Opposition BJP, Congress and ruling BJD blamed each other for the incidents of violence disrupting the polling process at various places in the State during the first phase voting for the three-tier Panchayat elections on Wednesday.
State BJP President Samir Mohanty alleged that the violence at various places during the polling was sponsored by ruling BJD.
“Workers of the ruling party have been directly involved with the political violence at Pipili, Dharmasala, Hindola and other places. The voters are afraid to go to the booths to exercise their franchise amid poll violence. Leave alone the common man, even media personnel were not spared from attack at Kanasa in Puri,” said Mohanty.
The senior BJP leader urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to break his silence over the hooliganism by his party workers.
“BJD candidates are distributing money at various constituencies in daytime to influence the voters. A BJD MLA’s brother and a Minister’s daughter were also found distributing money at Patnagarh and Lakhanpur, respectively. Even the Police DG is acting as per the direction of the ruling party,” said Mohanty.
Congress also slammed the ruling dispensation for the violence across the State during the first phase of polling for the Panchayat elections.
“BJD supporters are distributing money and liquor to influence voters. The law and order situation has completely deteriorated in the State. Booths were captured, bombs were hurled at different places and BJD supporters were involved in the crime. But, the police and State Election Commission are mysteriously silent over the matter,” said senior Congress leader Suresh Routray.
Earlier, Union Education Minister and State BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan had condemned the violence and lawlessness sponsored by the ruling party.
“The State administration must do its duty to give justice to the people. The SEC must act against the perpetrators of violence. Violence shouldn’t mar the festival of democracy,” Pradhan wrote in a series of tweets.
Responding to the Opposition parties, BJD Organisational Secretary Pranab Prakash Das said BJD always believes in practising non-violence.
“BJP has been sponsoring violence fearing defeat. BJD believes in non-violence and strongly feels that democracy could be bolstered only by peaceful elections,” Das hit back.
