Naveen Patnaik Criticizes BJP Over Allegations of Corruption in Rajya Sabha Elections
Naveen Patnaik's Strong Accusations Against BJP
On Monday, former Chief Minister of Odisha and leader of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Naveen Patnaik, launched a fierce attack on the BJP regarding the Rajya Sabha elections. He accused the party of involving individuals with criminal backgrounds in the alleged buying and selling of legislators. Patnaik expressed to the media that recent discussions surrounding the BJP and its allies clearly indicate their intentions behind these actions, stating that they have gathered numerous individuals to work for their interests, many of whom have criminal histories.
Concerns Over Criminal Backgrounds
Patnaik pointed out that many of these individuals have parents who have faced imprisonment or have threatened to go to jail themselves. He noted that just yesterday, BJP legislators were held at Paradip Jail. Earlier today, Patnaik alleged irregularities during the voting process for the Rajya Sabha elections, claiming that a second ballot was issued to a legislator, violating election rules.
Voting Irregularities Alleged
He further mentioned that the legislator from the Brahmagiri constituency made an error while casting her vote. Patnaik accused the election officer of accepting the vote despite the mistake and subsequently issuing a second ballot, which he argued is a breach of election regulations. He emphasized that the Brahmagiri legislator made a clear mistake while voting, yet the officer present in the polling booth illegally accepted her vote and issued another ballot, which contradicts democratic standards and violates election rules.
Ongoing Rajya Sabha Elections in Odisha
Voting for the Rajya Sabha elections is currently underway in Odisha, where members of the Odisha Assembly are casting their votes to elect representatives for the upper house of Parliament. The biennial elections aim to fill 37 seats across 10 states. The voting process is ongoing, with counting of votes set to commence at 5 PM today. The terms of 37 elected members from Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana will end in April, leading to vacant seats for new members.