Nuapada By-Election: BJD Alleges BJP Influenced Voters with Food Packets; Seeks CEO’s Immediate Intervention

Bhubaneswar: The opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Tuesday urged the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Odisha to take immediate action, accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during polling in the Nuapada Assembly by-election.

According to the BJD, BJP workers allegedly entered polling booths and exerted pressure on voters to cast their votes in favor of BJP candidate Jai Dholakia.

The party also claimed that BJP workers were distributing free food packets near several polling stations to influence voters.

Nuapada District BJD President Abani Joshi submitted a formal memorandum to the District Election Officer (DEO) and the Collector of Nuapada, demanding strict action.

The BJP workers have set up temporary tiffin distribution counters and are distributing free meals to voters standing in queues. This is a clear and deliberate violation of MCC and electoral laws, Joshi wrote in the memorandum.

Meanwhile, BJD spokesperson and media coordinator Lenin Mohanty alleged at a press conference that BJP members were forcibly staying inside polling booths and intimidating voters.

He claimed that such incidents were reported from booth numbers 3, 4, 5, 13, 14, and 15 under the Khariar Road NAC area of the Nuapada constituency. Mohanty further alleged that some government officials on duty failed to intervene despite witnessing the violations, suggesting they were acting in favor of the BJP.

Voting for the Nuapada Assembly constituency is being held across 358 polling stations, including 47 sensitive and eight highly sensitive booths, amid heightened security arrangements.

According to the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha, the polling percentage in Nuapada stood at 65.20% by 3 pm, showing steady voter participation. A total of around 2.53 lakh voters are eligible to decide the fate of 14 candidates contesting the by-election.