Even as the political parties continue to spar over the delay in announcement of the date for the Bijepur Assembly by-election, Joint Chief Electoral Officer of Odisha Bhabani Prasad Ray on Monday said the date would be announced after January 20.
The deadline for finalisation of the voter list for the Bijepur constituency has been extended to January 20. The list for the rest 146 Assembly constituencies would be prepared by February 26, he added.
Sources said the Electoral Officers for the Bijepur by-poll have been trained in the use of EVM and VVPAT machines, which would be used in the 270 booths in the constituency.
Earlier on January 4, Advisor to Election Commission (EC) Bhagban Prakash had said the EC would announce dates for the by-poll within the stipulated timeframe as per the rules.
However, BJD spokesperson Samir Dash reiterated his party’s allegation that the BJP is influencing the Election Commission to delay the by-poll because they are sure that they would lose it.
Similarly, leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Narasingha Mishra said the BJP Government at the Centre is trying to destroy all Constitutional bodies like the CBI and the Election Commission. It is also trying to interfere in the judiciary, he added.
Refuting the allegations, BJP State chief spokesperson Sajjan Sharma said nobody can pressurise the statutory Election Commission, which the critics very well know. The BJD would surely lose the Bijepur election, he added.