Bhubaneswar, Nov 10 (NationPress) The former Chief Minister and current Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Odisha Assembly, Naveen Patnaik, has urgently appealed to the Election Commission of India (ECI) for immediate action to ensure compliance with its regulations for conducting free and fair elections in the Nuapada Assembly constituency.

In a post on his X account, the BJD leader emphasized that a true democracy is defined by the execution of free and fair elections. He alleged that significant violations are occurring during the legally mandated silence period — 48 hours prior to polling.

According to ECI guidelines, political figures and campaigners from outside the constituency must vacate the area once the silence period commences.

“In stark contrast, we have credible reports that leaders and supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from outside #Nuapada are moving freely and trying to sway voters through unethical means.

“Alarmingly, when BJD leaders in Odisha raised objections to these actions, they were detained by law enforcement,” Patnaik asserted.

“This clearly indicates that the local administration and police are acting with bias, favoring the ruling party instead of maintaining electoral neutrality. Such actions threaten the essence of democratic integrity and erode public trust in the electoral process.

“If these practices persist, they will severely tarnish the credibility of the elections in Nuapada,” he added.

It is essential to note that on the same day, the BJD also lodged a complaint with the Chief Electoral Office, claiming that two local BJD leaders were unlawfully arrested by the police in Nuapada while peacefully protesting against the alleged cash distribution by BJP agents, including individuals from neighboring Chhattisgarh, in an effort to improperly influence voters, which constitutes a serious violation of the Model Code of Conduct and election laws.

Patnaik called on the ECI to ensure strict compliance with its guidelines by the local authorities in Nuapada.

“We therefore urge the Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) to: 1. Rigorously enforce the 48-hour silence period. 2. Mandate that all non-local political leaders depart the constituency in accordance with ECI regulations. 3. Instruct the local administration and police to act impartially and uphold the integrity of the election process,” Patnaik concluded.

He emphasized that it is the responsibility of every institution, particularly the Election Commission, to protect India's democracy from deterioration.