Odisha: BJP candidate accused of vandalizing EVM, arrested and sent to jail
A BJP candidate has been arrested in Khurda, Odisha for vandalising an EVM. He had to wait in line for a long time to cast his vote due to a fault in the EVM. Chilika’s BJP MLA Prashant Jagdev has been fielded from Khurda assembly seat this time. Assembly elections are being held in Odisha along with Lok Sabha elections. This incident took place on Saturday at booth 114 in Kourripatna of Bolagad block of Begunia assembly constituency.
According to news agency PTI, Prashant Jagdev went to the booth with his wife, but due to a faulty EVM, he had to wait for some time to cast his vote. Officials said that an argument started between him and the presiding officer. Meanwhile, he pulled the EVM from the table, and it fell and broke.
Superintendent of Police Avinash Kumar said that the MLA has been arrested on the basis of the complaint of the presiding officer. The SP said that apart from the Representation of the People Act, a case has been registered against Jagdev under various sections of the IPC. The court sent Prashant Jagdev to judicial custody and he is currently lodged in Khurda jail.
Avinash Kumar said that the presiding officer alleged in his complaint that the MLA created disturbances at the booth. Interrupted the voting process and misbehaved with the polling personnel. He said that we have requested the District Election Officer to investigate the CCTV footage of the incident.
At the same time, a BJP leader claimed that the allegations against Prashant Jagdev are politically motivated. He alleged that the presiding officer misbehaved with many voters and did the same with the MLA. On the other hand, however, the ruling BJD of the state has also filed a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and demanded strict action against Prashant Jagdev.
BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra alleged that he attacked the polling personnel in the booth and then fled from the spot by hiding in the car of Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi. Let us tell you that voting was held simultaneously on Saturday for 6 Lok Sabha seats and 42 assembly seats of the state.
