The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) held a meeting of its Political Affairs Committee (PAC) at Naveen Niwas today.
Party president Naveen Patnaik personally inquired about the reasons for the party’s defeat in the Nuapada by-election and instructed members to conduct a detailed analysis and submit a report.
During the meeting, serious allegations were raised that in 63 booths, BJD votes were forcibly taken over by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The party has decided to perform a booth-wise analysis and file a complaint with the Election Commission.
The meeting, which took place on Saturday at Naveen Niwas, was attended by senior vice-president Debi Mishra, senior BJD MLA and Opposition chief whip in the Assembly Pramila Mallik, senior MLAs Niranjan Pujari, Sudam Marndi, Pranab Prakash Das, Sanjay Dasburma, Santrupt Mishra, Tukuni Sahu, and others. The discussion lasted for over an hour.
According to sources, Naveen advised leaders to motivate the disheartened workers following the Nuapada debacle. He suggested sharpening the anti-government stance further and instructed them to intensify the fight for public interests from the streets to the Assembly. The party president directed all members to clearly communicate this approach to the workers.
After the meeting, PAC member and Opposition chief whip Pramila Mallik said, “In 63 booths, BJP forcibly took BJD votes. Voters cast their votes for us, but where did those votes go? The party will investigate this. Naveen Babu discussed it with PAC members today. After analysis, we will approach the Election Commission. Democracy is being murdered. A booth-wise review will be done. BJP used money, power and muscle power to seize votes. The Election Commission should take action against those involved.” She further added that the meeting also discussed in detail the party’s stance in the upcoming Assembly session.
Mallik stated that in the coming days, organisations like youth, student, and women’s wings will be strengthened further. District committees and frontal wings will be fortified. By strengthening all organisations, BJD will fight for the people’s interests, she said.
In the by-election held on November 11, BJP candidate Jay Dholakia won with 1,23,869 votes, while Congress candidate Ghasiram Majhi secured second place with 40,121 votes. BJD candidate Snehangini Chhuria received 38,408 votes and slipped to third place. BJP won by a margin of 83,748 votes. The party attributes this defeat to EVM tampering and the BJP’s forcible seizure of BJD votes, as alleged by senior leaders.
