Odisha BJP demands separate ballot boxes for zilla parishad candidates

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Dec 27: 

Odisha unit of BJP today met Governor SC Jamir demanding installation of separate ballot boxes in polling booths for zilla parishad candidates during the upcoming panchayat polls.

The delegates led by BJP state unit president Basant Panda also demanded counting of votes for zilla parishad candidates of each district in a single day.

“The zilla parishad polls are being contested under party symbols. That is the reason, we demand separate ballots boxes and separate counting for the zilla parishad candidates. We meet the Governor on this context and requested him to intervene and direct the State Government to use separate ballot boxes. Besides, we also requested him to get the counting of votes for zilla parishad candidates of each district in a single day,” said Panda.

“By asking to put the ballot papers of zilla parishad candidates in the same ballot box as samiti members, sarpanches and ward members, they are trying to choke the voice of democracy. This is a deliberate strategy to mislead and lure the public,” he added speaking to reporters after meeting the Governor.

In a related development, top executives of BJP today started a three-day brainstorming session at the state headquarters to give final shape to the panchayat poll strategy of the party.