Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers are staging dharna in front of the office of the State Election Commission (SEC) here on Wednesday alleging irregularities and favouritism in the ongoing panchayat elections in Odisha.
Both the parties sought action against each other alleging the other party’s involvement in election-related offences during the ongoing panchayat polls.
Bhubaneswar (Central) MLA Ananta Narayan Jena questioned why has the SEC not taken any action despite repeated complaints by the BJD, while BJP leader Surath Biswal alleged that the ruling party is forcing all government officials to campaign in support of BJD.
Reportedly, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the opposition BJP and the Congress on February 17 held each other responsible for the violence witnessed during the first phase of polling in the three-tier panchayat elections in Odisha on the previous day.
