Congress demands probe into poll irregularities

The Congress party has sought a thorough investigation into the alleged irregularities in the recently concluded Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the state.

The party also demanded stern action against the candidates and the returning officers allegedly involved in the poll irregularities like booth capturing, booth rigging, tampering of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and distribution of cash to induce the voters.

Addressing media persons here at the state party office, Shivanand Ray, vice-president, Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee said, “The investigation of the Central Election Commission has proved that booth rigging was done in some booths of the Nayagarh constituency. The booth rigging was done by the BJD supporters in connivance with the returning officers.”

Ray also accused the BJD of large scale booth capturing in the constituencies like Sukinda, Ersama, Niyali, Paradeep, Jajpur, Sundergarh, Bolangir and Kandhamal and pointed out that repolling needs to be held in all these booths.

Repolling was held in only one booth in Ghasipura under the Keonjhar assembly constituency even though the Congress had sought repolling in 22 booths, he said.

Ray alleged that the EVMs were tampered during the polls and many EVMs malfunctioned during the polls. He pointed out that about 50 EVMs did not function in Jajpur district. He said that the Election Commission should not allow the misuse of EVMs and the custody of all unutilized EVMs need to be entrusted with Central security agencies like the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).