Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has sought immediate action over alleged irregularities in the 2026 Rajya Sabha elections, urging the Election Commission of India to order a fair and transparent inquiry.
According to a party press release issued from Sankha Bhawan in Bhubaneswar, the complaint was filed on April 28 by Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Sasmit Patra under the direction of BJD President Naveen Patnaik. The complaint alleged that two MLAs, Upasana Mohapatra and Purnachandra Sethy, were illegally issued second ballot papers during the polling held on the same day.
Following the complaint, the Election Commission of India responded through its Under Secretary Rajendra Kumar Singh, who, on April 29, wrote to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Odisha, directing that the matter be discussed with a BJD delegation.
The meeting between the Odisha CEO and the BJD delegation has been scheduled for May 11 at 11:00 AM.
As per party instructions, the delegation will include Prasanna Acharya, Deputy Leader of the Opposition; Pramila Mallik, Chief Whip of the Opposition and Polling Agent for the Rajya Sabha Election 2026; Pratap Deb, Deputy Chief Whip of the Opposition and Authorized Agent; Dr. Arun Kumar Sahoo, MLA and Counting Agent; and Dr. Patra, the petitioner in the case.
The BJD has reiterated its demand for swift legal action, an impartial probe, and a transparent investigation into the alleged irregularities, stating that such measures are essential to safeguard the sanctity of the electoral process.
The party emphasized its commitment to upholding democratic values and ensuring transparency in elections.
