Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) alleged the BJP of distributing cash and pressurising voters in Rourkela ahead of Odisha Elections 2024.

A delegation of BJD including star campaigner Sulata Deo met the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) today in this regard and lodged a complaint against the BJP seeking a probe into electoral misconduct and intimidation by BJP's mandal president Sapteswar Patra and his aide Jagababandhu Sahoo.

The BJD alleged that Sapteswar Patra and a group of his supporters were distributing money at Vishwakarma Basti area of Ward No. 37 under Rourkela Municipal Corporation of Rourkela Assembly Constituency on Monday night.

According to the complaint, Last night on May 6, Sapteswar Patra, the mandal president of Koel Nagar, Jagda Jhirpani and Shakti Nagar area, along with Jagababandhu Sahoo and a group of supporters were reportedly engaged in highly questionable activities. As per eyewitnesses, they arrive at Jagada Water Tank in Vishwakarma slum area at around 9.30 PM. They were found distributing money to residents of the area under dubious circumstances.

When confronted by locals over the act, instead of being refrained from the activities, they intimidated the voters of facing dire consequences if they oppose them. They allegedly pressurised the residents to vote in favour of the BJP in the upcoming elections, the BJD alleged.

Worth mentioning that voting will be held in Rourkela on May 20. Heavyweights including BJD's Sarada Prasad Nayak and BJP's Dilip Ray are in the poll fray to win Rourkela Assembly seat.