Repeating the charges levelled by the BJP on Monday, Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Jayadev Jena on Tuesday accused the State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and her subordinates of having a nexus with the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and alleged that rampant illegalities were committed by the State Government during the recent general elections.
Jena took a potshot at CEO Mona Sharma, saying her claims of having conducted a free and fair election in the State are simply misleading and that she had failed to win the trust of the Opposition parties.
“The Congress has come up with some evidences that clearly reveal the unholy nexus between the ruling party and the CEO’s office. The elections have been conducted in an undemocratic way with the Government misutilising its power and influencing voters by using money and muscle power,” Jena told reporters here.
Jena alleged that even after submitting sufficient evidence to the CEO on the BJD’s involvement in booth rigging and false voting, no action has been taken, which clearly shows a “nexus between them”.
Demanding re-polling in the Ghasipura Assembly seat in Keonjhar district, where election was held on April 17, Jena said there are enough evidence in the form of video clippings of rigging in the area which have been submitted to the CEO, but all in vain.
The PCC chief expressed serious concern over the security of EVMs and said the BJD is trying every possible trick to replace and manipulate the EVMs. Since the strong rooms meant for the EVMs are under the threat of manipulation and alteration all opposition candidates have reasons to be apprehensive, he said.
“That EVMs were found in vehicles of the key Government officials and functionaries of the election machinery in the Mahakalpada, Baripada and Bhubaneswar (Central) constituencies,” Jena said. He also pointed out that in the Kamakshyanagar Assembly seat in Dhenkanal district the Sub-Collector had entered the strong room.
“The tainted Collector of Mayurbhanj, who was involved in the election malpractice in the 2009 Athagarh Assembly polls, has been made the District Election Officer (DEO),” he pointed out.
Jena also expressed surprise over the fact that the Election Commission of India has not yet shared any details of the amounts of cash seized during the poll process and also about the action taken against the people involved on its website.
Jena said he has asked his party’s candidates and colleagues to be vigilant over the EVM security measures to foil any bid to tamper with them.