Patkura Polls: BJD Seeks Special Security Arrangement, BJP Hits Back 

Bhubaneswar: A delegation of the State ruling BJD today met the Odisha Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and Director General of Police (DGP) and demanded special security arrangement for smooth conduct of the Patkura election to be held tomorrow.

Led by party MLA Pramila Mallick, a women delegation of BJD met CEO Surendra Kumar and DGP RP Sharma and submitted memorandum urging them to make special security arrangements at 56 vulnerable booths in the poll-bound Patkura Assembly seat under Kendrapara Lok Sabha segment. This apart, the delegation raised concerns alleging possible booth capturing by the activists of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“We suspect that activists of BJP are most likely to capture booths during voting in Patkura Assembly constituency tomorrow. Therefore, we met the CEO asking him to deploy adequate police personnel, Micro Observers (MO) and install CCTV cameras in the booths,” said Mallick while speaking to media persons.

Likewise, a delegation of the saffron party also met the Chief Electoral Officer and demanded a free and fair election. Besides, they hit back at BJD and alleged that the regional party is engaged in anti-democratic activities to win the Assembly seat by hook or crook.

“It is not the BJP, but the BJD which is using anti-democratic means to win the Patkura seat. We fear that BJD activists will carry out all sorts of illegal activities tomorrow especially in Derabish Block. They are brainwashing the voters,” alleged BJP's State secretary Lekhashree Samantsinghar.