Bhubaneswar: An MLA candidate of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was allegedly assaulted during the first phase Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in Odisha today.

Narsingh Bhatra, the BJP nominee for Jharigam Assembly seat under Nabarangpur Lok Sabha segment, was allegedly assaulted by some miscreants during the polling today.

Bhatra rushed to Deulakana village under Jharigaon seat after receiving allegations regarding booth capturing during the polls.

The BJP candidate was allegedly attacked by some miscreants near booth no. 204 at Deulakana while he was collecting information regarding any irregularities in the polling process.

Bhatra lodged a complaint in this regard with police.

Bhatra has been pitted against Nabarangpur MP and BJD nominee Ramesh Chandra Majhi and Herabati Gond of Congress from Jharigam.

Majhi, as BJD nominee, had won from Nabarangpur Lok Sabha seat in 2019. However, the ruling party in Odisha gave him ticket to fight the Assembly polls from Jharigam while picking former MP Pradeep Majhi for Nabarangpur Lok Sabha seat in 2024 polls in the state.

Notably, four Lok Sabha constituencies—Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Berhampur and Koraput—and 28 Assembly segments under their jurisdictions went for polls in the first phase in the state today.