BJD delegation meets ECI, flags poll irregularities

 Bhubaneswar: A Biju Janata Dal (BJD) delegation met the Election Commission of India (ECI) in New Delhi Tuesday to submit suggestions aimed at strengthening the electoral process. The delegation included BJD senior vice president Debi Prasad Mishra, former MP Amar Patnaik, ex-minister Sanjay Das Burma, former Speaker Pramila Mallick, MP Sulata Deo, Priyabrata Majhi, and other party leader During the meeting, the BJD raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the 2024 simultaneous General and Assembly elections.

The party highlighted unexplained differences between votes polled and counted, discrepancies in MP and MLA segment tallies, and a sudden spike in voter turnout after 5 pm. The delegation also expressed dissatisfaction over not receiving Form 17C despite repeated requests. The ECI reportedly acknowledged that the form should have been provided. The delegation also raised transparency concerns in constituencies, including Jajpur, and called for reforms in electoral roll preparation to safeguard the rights of migrants and temporary workers. Mishra stressed that while NRIs enjoy enrolment rights, denying the same to migrants could trigger socio-cultural tensions. The ECI assured flexibility in enrolment timelines.

On the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Odisha, Patnaik cautioned against a hasty exercise similar to Bihar, where genuine voters were allegedly disenfranchised. The BJD emphasised that SIR must be inclusive, transparent, and consultative, warning that the party may launch agitational programmes if voter rights and transparency concerns are not addressed.

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