In a fiery press conference at Sankha Bhawan today, Biju Mahila Janata Dal leader and Nuapada by-election candidate Snehangini Chhuria accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating widespread vote rigging to snatch victory in the closely watched poll.
Chhuria, who represented the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), claimed that the BJP manipulated the district administration, police, and election officials to undermine the democratic process, despite overwhelming grassroots support for her party during the campaign.
Chhuria recounted her exhaustive campaign trail, where she visited every panchayat and Notified Area Council (NAC) in Nuapada. “At every stop, I witnessed unbridled support and affection for the Biju Janata Dal and our party president, Naveen Patnaik,” she said. However, she alleged that this enthusiasm failed to translate into votes due to systematic interference. During the election campaign, the district administration reportedly took aggressive actions against BJD leaders and workers to demoralise them. Repeated complaints to election authorities fell on deaf ears, yielding no relief.
The allegations escalated as Chhuria highlighted violations during the silent period, when BJD leaders adhered to election code norms and left the constituency. In contrast, she claimed BJP leaders remained in Nuapada, openly distributing cash to influence voters. When local BJD supporters lodged complaints at the police station, the accusers themselves were detained, slapped with charges under the Arms Act, and sent to jail—a move Chhuria described as blatant intimidation.
Polling day, she asserted, was marred by even graver irregularities. BJP workers allegedly entered polling booths to conduct last-minute campaigning and coerced voters to cast ballots for the party’s lotus symbol. Despite complaints, presiding officers turned a blind eye. This, Chhuria said, led to an inexplicable surge in voter turnout, raising red flags of booth rigging. In 41 booths, turnout exceeded 90%—a figure she deemed “unacceptable and suspicious.” Initial reports pegged turnout at 75% by 5 PM and 77% by 7 PM on election day. Yet, the very next morning, figures jumped to 81% by 10 AM and 83.45% by noon, fueling suspicions of ballot stuffing.
“Nuapada’s people stood firmly with the BJD, but the BJP’s grip on the administration, police, and election machinery turned the tide through rigging,” Chhuria stated. Undeterred by the loss, she pledged unwavering commitment to the constituency’s welfare. “The BJD was with Nuapada’s residents then, and we will always be. I will fight for their interests every step of the way.” She extended heartfelt gratitude to voters for their support toward her and party chief Naveen Patnaik, the former Chief Minister.
Echoing her sentiments, Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das addressed the media, slamming the BJP’s tactics. “They may have seized the Nuapada seat by puppeteering the administration, but the hearts of Nuapada’s people remain with BJD candidate Snehangini Chhuria and our leader Naveen Patnaik,” Das stated. “On behalf of the BJD, we thank the residents for their unwavering faith. We will stand with them forever.”
The Nuapada by-election, held to fill a vacancy, has sparked intense political debate in Odisha, with the BJD’s claims potentially setting the stage for legal challenges or further scrutiny by election watchdogs. As the dust settles, Chhuria’s resolute tone signals that the battle for Nuapada’s future is far from over.
