The chief electoral officer (CEO) of Odisha has directed the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) to send a delegation on May 11 to address the party's complaint regarding the alleged unlawful issuance of second ballot papers to two Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) during the Rajya Sabha elections held in March. The BJD had previously raised this matter with the Election Commission of India (ECI).
BJD Delegation to Meet CEO
According to a statement released by the BJD, the delegation will be led by Deputy Leader of Opposition Prasanna Acharya. The team will include Chief Whip Pramila Mallik, Deputy Chief Whip Pratap Deb, MLA Arun Kumar Sahoo, and Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra, who originally filed the petition before Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Allegations of Rule Violation
In his petition, Patra alleged that the issuance of second ballot papers to MLAs Purna Chandra Sethi and Upasna Mohapatra was a direct violation of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961. He has demanded that the votes cast by these MLAs using the second ballot papers be rejected. The BJD has been pressing for a thorough investigation into the matter, asserting that the integrity of the electoral process was compromised.
The development comes amid heightened political tensions in Odisha, with the BJD accusing the ruling party of manipulating the Rajya Sabha elections. The CEO's decision to summon the party for discussions indicates that the Election Commission is taking the complaint seriously. The outcome of the meeting on May 11 is expected to have significant implications for the credibility of the electoral process in the state.
