Bhubaneswar

A scuffle broke out between legislators of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during voting for the Rajya Sabha elections in Odisha on Monday.

The BJD accused the BJP of engaging in “horse-trading” to influence the outcome of the polls.

Sarada Prasanna Jena, a BJD MLA, alleged that BJP leaders attempted to secure votes from BJD legislators and claimed that party members were attacked when they opposed the move.

“BJP indulged in horse trading and bought some BJD MLAs to get their votes. When BJD MLAs opposed them, they countered us and attacked our people. This was unconstitutional. The law and order situation in the state is not right. When elected representatives are not safe, then how can common citizens remain safe? We did not attack anyone. BJP MLAs attacked BJD MLAs. We condemn this,” Jena said.

Earlier in the day, BJD chief and Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Assembly Naveen Patnaik also alleged irregularities in the voting process.

Patnaik claimed that election norms were violated after a legislator was issued a second ballot paper during the voting process.

According to him, the MLA from the Brahmagiri Assembly constituency made an error while casting her vote.

The constituency is currently represented by Upasna Mohapatra.

Patnaik alleged that the polling officer issued a second ballot paper to the legislator, which he said was against established election rules.

“The MLA of Brahmagiri had made a clear mistake while voting. But the officer sitting in the voting room who is in charge of this has illegally accepted her vote and has issued a second ballot paper. This is totally against democratic norms and a violation of election rules,” Patnaik told ANI.

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He added that the BJD had strongly objected to the development but claimed that election officials did not address the party’s concerns.