Bhubaneswar/Nuapada: BJD President and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik has raised serious concerns over alleged violations of election silence period norms in the Nuapada Assembly constituency, urging the Election Commission of India (ECI) to intervene immediately to ensure a free and fair polling process.
The BJD President said that the sanctity of the election process is being compromised as, despite the mandatory 36-hour silence period before polling, political leaders from outside the constituency—particularly from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)—are still moving around Nuapada and attempting to influence voters.
“The hallmark of a true democracy lies in the conduct of free and fair elections. However, it has come to our notice that in Nuapada, serious violations are taking place during the legally mandated silence period — 36 hours before polling”, Naveen said.
“As per the Election Commission’s guidelines, political leaders and campaigners from outside the constituency are required to leave the area once the silence period begins. Contrary to this, we have reliable information that ministers, MLAs and leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from outside Nuapada are freely moving around and attempting to influence voters through unfair means”, he further said.
Disturbingly, when local Biju Janata Dal leaders have objected to these activities, they have been detained by the police. This clearly suggests that the district administration and local police are acting in a partisan manner, serving the interests of the ruling party rather than upholding electoral neutrality. This situation strikes at the very core of democratic fairness and undermines public faith in the electoral process. Such actions, if allowed to continue, will cast a serious shadow on the integrity of the polls in Nuapada, Naveen added
The BJD supremo sought the immediate intervention of the Election Commission of India to enforce the 36-hour silence period strictly and ensure that Ministers MLAs and leaders of BJP from outside vacate the constituency as per ECI norms.
He also urged the ECI to direct the district administration and police to act impartially and uphold the sanctity of the election process and also to keep a close watch on the list of booths given by BJD and other opposition parties as sensitive and vulnerable for manipulation by BJP.
“The people of India have inherited this democracy through the sacrifices of our forefathers, and it is the duty of every institution — especially the Election Commission — to protect it from erosion”, he said.