Bhubaneswar, (Oriaas Today), May 29: Chilika MLA and BJP’s candidate for Khordha, Prashant Jagdev, was hospitalized at SCB Medical College and Hospital in the early hours of Wednesday due to illness.
According to his lawyer’s request, Jagdev was transferred from Khurda jail to the hospital at 4 am. His health deteriorated while in custody, prompting his admission to the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the Medicine ward, as per hospital sources.
Jagdev’s detention stems from an incident where he allegedly tampered with an EVM while exercising his voting rights at a polling booth in Khordha. Following a complaint from the presiding officer, he was arrested and subsequently incarcerated on charges of damaging electoral equipment during the third phase of polling in Odisha on May 25.
The arrest of the Chilika MLA has sparked a verbal skirmish between BJP and the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD). BJP’s Aparajita Sarangi has refuted the accusations against Jagdev, labeling them politically motivated and baseless. Conversely, the BJD has lodged a formal complaint with the chief electoral officer (CEO), urging stringent action against Jagdev.
