Congress candidate in the Chikiti Assembly seat Manoranjan Dyansamantara has alleged that the ruling BJD supporters indulged in rigging of votes in at least 16 places under Chikiti block during the first phase of election held on April 10. “My polling agents were forcibly removed from the booths in some places. They too threatened our polling agents,” he told reporters here on Tuesday.
Demanding re-polling in 16 booths, Dyansamantara said he has already complained to Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Mona Sharma immediately after the polling on April 10.“We have asked the Returning Officer to make inquiry booth wise after receiving the complaints of the Congress candidate from the CEO office, said Ganjam district Collector Prem Chandra Chaudhary. “We will reply to the CEO after the inquiry, Choudhury, who is also the District Election Officer, said.
Former Assembly Deputy Speaker and senior Congress leader Chintamani Dyansamantara, also father of Congress candidate Manoranjan, claimed he had apprised the CEO prior to the poll about the apprehension of rigging. “I had told the CEO as I had experienced this in the past two elections held in 2004 and 2009, he said.Manoranjan is the contestant against Women and Child Development Minister and BJD nominee Usha Devi. The BJP’s Udayanath Pradhan is also in the fray.