Rajya Sabha Voting Training in Odisha Assembly Marred by BJD‑BJP Clash
Bhubaneswar: Ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for March 16, legislators from all major parties participated in a voting training session at the Assembly Conference Hall.
The Election Commission, in collaboration with the Assembly Secretariat, conducted a mock poll exercise to ensure MLAs are well‑versed with the voting process.
Members from BJD, BJP, Congress, and CPI(M) attended the session, underscoring its importance in maintaining procedural clarity. However, the event quickly became a political flashpoint.
BJD president and opposition leader Naveen Patnaik accused the BJP of indulging in horse‑trading to secure votes for its three candidates, warning that such practices undermine democratic values.
In response, BJP leader Jaynarayan Mishra alleged that Patnaik himself had engaged in horse‑trading in earlier elections, describing BJD as a “sinking boat” and firmly denying the BJP’s involvement in vote‑buying.
The training session, intended to streamline voting, thus highlighted the intensifying political rivalry ahead of the crucial Rajya Sabha polls in Odisha.
