Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Signals BJD's Backing for Ballot Paper Voting
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Bhubaneswar, Dec 26 (NationPress) The Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Assembly and ex-Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik indicated on Thursday that if elections are conducted using ballot papers again, his party, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), would extend its support.
Patnaik made these remarks during a conversation with reporters following his participation in the 28th BJD Foundation Day event at the party's headquarters.
When questioned regarding the impact of alleged EVM irregularities on the BJD's performance in the 2024 elections, Patnaik emphasized that these claims require thorough investigation.
The BJD leader also criticized the ruling BJP concerning the EVM issues, questioning why the ruling party reacted anxiously to the memorandum submitted to the Election Commission of India by the BJD, which sought an inquiry into the alleged EVM discrepancies.
It is noteworthy that a BJD team filed a formal complaint with the ECI on Monday, alleging discrepancies between the total votes cast at a polling booth and the total votes counted from the EVM.
The BJD has also highlighted a mismatch in the votes recorded for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, despite both elections occurring simultaneously.
Responding to the accusations from Patnaik, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan remarked, 'The EVM is reliable when you win but becomes faulty when you lose, indicating a sense of desperation.'
Pradhan noted that the BJD is in a state of shock following their electoral defeat, which has led to such claims.
Meanwhile, BJP state president Manmohan Samal stated that they should approach the ECI if they discovered any polling discrepancies six months post-election.
He mentioned that any political party can present its concerns regarding EVMs to the election commission, which will make an informed decision on the matter.
Additionally, former CM Patnaik on Thursday expressed that the BJD is still considering the One Nation One Voting proposal. He also stated he was unaware of the reasons behind his nomination for the Bharat Ratna.
It is important to note that Union Minister and senior BJP leader Giriraj Singh proposed the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor, for both Naveen Patnaik and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
