Odisha Chief Electoral Officer to meet BJD delegation over Rajya Sabha elections irregularity allegation

Odisha Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has scheduled a gathering connected May 11, 2026 with a delegation of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) with regards to latter’s allegation regarding “illegal” issuance of 2nd ballot to 2 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs during Rajya Sabha election.

Following acquisition of BJD president Naveen Patnaik, party’s Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra submitted an urgent practice to the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding the issuance of a 2nd ballot insubstantial to MLAs Upasana Mohapatra and Purna Chandra Sethi, during the Rajya Sabha Elections held connected March 16, 2026.