6 months ago
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Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik connected Monday (November 10, 2025) expressed beardown displeasure implicit the alleged usurpation of the exemplary codification of conduct, accusing ministers and ruling enactment MLAs of remaining successful Nuapada contempt being required to permission the territory 36 hours earlier polling.
Nuapada goes to canvass connected November 11. The bypoll is being held pursuing the demise of erstwhile curate and elder Biju Janata Dal (BJD) person Rajendra Dholakia.
In a station connected societal media level ‘X’, Mr. Patnaik said, “The hallmark of a existent ideology lies successful the behaviour of escaped and just elections. However, it has travel to our announcement that successful Nuapada, superior violations are taking spot during the legally mandated soundlessness play — 36 hours earlier polling.”
The seasoned person cited Election Commission guidelines stating that governmental leaders and campaigners from extracurricular the constituency indispensable permission the country erstwhile the soundlessness play begins.
“Contrary to this, we person reliable accusation that ministers, MLAs, and leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from extracurricular Nuapada are freely moving astir and attempting to power voters done unfair means,” helium said.”
Mr. Patnaik added, “Disturbingly, erstwhile section BJD leaders person objected to these activities, they person been detained by the police. This intelligibly suggests that the territory medication and section constabulary are acting successful a partisan manner, serving the interests of the ruling enactment alternatively than upholding electoral neutrality.”
‘Shadows the integrity’
“This concern strikes astatine the precise halfway of antiauthoritarian fairness and undermines nationalist religion successful the electoral process. Such actions volition formed a superior shadiness connected the integrity of the polls successful Nuapada,” said erstwhile Odisha Chief Minister, who besides holds the presidentship of BJD.
The BJD main urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to “enforce the 36-hour soundlessness play strictly truthful that ministers, MLAs, and BJP leaders from extracurricular vacate the constituency arsenic per ECI norms.”
He besides appealed to the Commission to nonstop medication and constabulary to enactment impartially and uphold the sanctity of the predetermination process, portion keeping a adjacent ticker connected delicate and susceptible booths identified by the BJD and different absorption parties.
“The radical of India person inherited this ideology done the sacrifices of our forefathers, and it is the work of each instauration particularly the ECI to support it from erosion,” Mr. Patnaik said.
