Odisha CEO RS Gopalan firmly rejected BJD’s allegation that electronic voting machines were secretly moved from Ganjam to Nuapada ahead of the bypoll.
While addressing a press conference in Bhubaneswar, Gopalan acknowledged receiving a complaint. However, he dismissed the claim as baseless. He pointed to CCTV footage from Ganjam warehouses, which showed no movement of EVMs. He assured that all machines used in Nuapada came from local storage and remain under strict surveillance.
Moreover, Gopalan emphasized that each district maintains its own secure EVM warehouse. He denied accusations against the Nuapada Collector and clarified that even training EVMs are properly documented. He urged voters to ignore misleading reports and trust the election process.
Meanwhile, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty countered the CEO’s statement. He alleged that EVMs were shifted and designated for 32 booths. He questioned the reliability of CCTV systems, citing failures during incidents in Berhampur and Puri.
Additionally, Mohanty criticized the Nuapada Collector, SP, and IGP, accusing them of favoring the ruling BJP. Despite his concerns, he expressed confidence in the CEO’s integrity.
On the ground, Nuapada DEO Madusudan Dash and SP Amritpal Singh confirmed full readiness across 358 polling booths, including 47 in Left Wing Extremism-affected areas. CRPF Commandant Erick Gilbert Jose reported that forces secured these zones and deployed helicopters to transport polling officials.
As polling day approaches, over 2.53 lakh voters will decide the fate of 14 candidates. The Nuapada EVM controversy continues to fuel political tension.
