Days after Mahesh Baka, son of Chitrakonda BJD MLA Purnachandra Baka, was seen in a viral video clip making the voters of Badadural Panchayat in Malkangiri district swear by God to cast their vote to a particular candidates, a similar incident has surfaced from Nalgunda Gram Panchayat under Chandbali Block of Bhadrak district on Monday.
In the latest video clip doing rounds on the social media platforms, BJD’s Sarpancha aspirant Pratibha Biswal and Manasi Padhi, the president of party’s womens’ wing from Chandali Block, were seen making women voters of Ward number-12 in Itua village of the Gram Panchayat take pledge on the photograph of Lord Jagannath.
The BJD leaders could be seen asking the women voters to swear by the Lord’s photograph made them say that they will cast their votes for the Zilla Parishad, Sarpanch, Samiti member and Ward member candidates belonging to the ruling party.
Worth mentioning here that following the allegations of booth rigging at Ward number-12 in Itua village under Nalgunda Panchayat, re-polling will be conducted in the Ward on February 23.
Meanwhile, Sarpanch candidate Biswal has admitted that she was present at the spot while BJD leader Padhi refuted allegations that she made the women villagers take pledge to vote for the party candidates.
“I was there on the spot. Some members from Mission Shakti had come to the village and they were explaining the women villagers about the government’s welfare schemes. They told them to join hands with me as I am the Sarpanch candidate,” said Biswal.
“Nothing such has happened. Someone is spreading the wrong information,” said Padhi dismissing the charges against her.
Another Sarpanch candidate from the area, Bharati Biswal, alleged that though people are being pressurised to vote for a particular party, they will cast their vote for the right candidate.
“They are using the name of our presiding deity Lord Jagannath to win the election. I don’t understand what type of democracy is this. The leaders of the ruling party are making people swear by the Lord to vote for them. They are also using muscle power to gain vote. But people know what is best for them,” said Biswal.