The Samata Kranti Dal (SKD) on Tuesday urged the Election Commission to conduct re-poll for Danduas (practitioners of folk art Danda Nata and spiritual devotees of Goddess Kali), who had skipped voting during the phase-I polls held on April 10.
Party candidate for Brahmapur Assembly constituency Khali Sahu said that more than 20,000 Danduas could not cast their votes due to strict norms of the ritual.According to the ritual, the Danduas cannot go out for other works for 21 days.The days of penance was completed on the day of Maha Bishuba Sankranti that fell on April 14 this year. As the phase-I elections was conducted on April 10, the Danduas failed to exercise their franchises.The party requested the Commission to conduct re-polls for the Danduas of Ganjam district to give them a chance to exercise their voting rights.