BJD Alleges Intimidation of Party Workers by Nuapada Collector, SP; Seeks ECI Intervention

Bhubaneswar, Oct 27 : The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Sunday accused the Collector and Superintendent of Police (SP) of Nuapada district of intimidating and coercing its party workers to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the November 11 by-election to the Nuapada Assembly seat, and sought the intervention of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure a free and fair poll.

In a formal representation submitted to the ECI, BJD leaders alleged “grave violations” of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by the district officials.

“It has come to our notice, and is widely reported among party workers and the general public, that Madhusudan Dash, Collector of Nuapada district, and Amritpal Singh, Superintendent of Police, Nuapada district, are misusing their official positions and government machinery to intimidate, threaten, and coerce cadres and supporters of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP),” the petition stated.

The party claimed that such “systematic and high-handed” actions undermine the democratic process and raise serious concerns over the impartiality of the election administration.

“The Collector, being the District Election Officer, must remain neutral and uphold the integrity of the electoral process, while the SP’s role is to maintain law and order and ensure peaceful, fair elections by adhering strictly to the directives of the Election Commission,” the memorandum read.

The BJD further alleged that the conduct of the two senior officers constituted a “blatant violation of the Model Code of Conduct”, eroding public confidence in the neutrality of the government machinery and threatening the constitutional guarantee of free and fair elections.

Urging the ECI to take immediate cognizance of the matter, the regional party demanded that “exemplary and appropriate action” be initiated against any act of intimidation, coercion, or misuse of official power to influence the electoral process.

The Nuapada Assembly by-election, scheduled for November 11, is being closely watched as a key political contest in western Odisha following the recent shifts in party alignments in the region.