‘Bahubali’ BJP MLA candidate Prasanta Jagadev ‘vandalises’ EVM; BJD moves CEO

Priya Ranjan Swain Published On : May 25, 2024 at 5:46 PM

Bhubaneswar: Prasanta Kumar Jagadev, the BJP nominee for Khurda Assembly seat, was accused of vandalising an EVM at a polling booth during the third phase polls in Odisha today.

The ruling BJD moved the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Odisha seeking stern action against Jagadev.

Plans afoot to accord ‘eco-sensitive zone’ tag to 3 rich ecosystems in Odisha

Former Odisha Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare passes away

In its complaint before the CEO, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) alleged that Jagadev entered a polling booth unauthorisedly and damaged an EVM.

Jagadev also attacked the polling officials inside the booth, alleged the ruling party.

“Soon after the incident, Jagadev fled the spot by hiding in the vehicle of Aparajita Sarangi, the BJP nominee for Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha segment. However, he was detained by the police near Begunia,” said BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra.

The BJD sought the immediate arrest of Jagadev and appropriate action against him.

Notably, Jagadev had been elected to Odisha Assembly from Chilika seat on a BJD ticket in 2019.

He was expelled from the ruling party for his alleged unruly behaviour. He later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and got the ticket to fight the 2024 Assembly polls from Khurda seat.