BJD accuses Election Commission of 'Vote Chori' in Odisha assembly elections

August 20, 2025 by News Desk

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Amar Patnaik on Tuesday accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of ignoring serious discrepancies in the votes polled and counted during last year’s Odisha Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. He alleged that the poll body had adopted a “my way or the highway” approach and warned that the BJD would not confine itself to court battles if concerns continued to be brushed aside.

Patnaik said the party had flagged irregularities in the counting process but received no satisfactory response. “The Commission insists that whatever it is doing is right, and if anything goes wrong, they blame political parties or their booth agents,” he remarked, adding that such an attitude was eroding public faith in the electoral process.

The BJD leader further cautioned that the party was prepared to take its protest to the streets. “The Election Commission takes the ‘my way or highway’ approach, which is unacceptable to us, and we will take to the streets of Odisha if needed,” he warned. His remarks come at a time when questions are being raised nationally about the transparency of elections and the credibility of the country’s top poll body.

Last year’s Odisha elections saw the BJD lose significant ground to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which emerged as the ruling party in the state after more than two decades of BJD dominance under Naveen Patnaik. The results marked a turning point in Odisha politics, and allegations of discrepancies in the counting of votes have since fueled resentment within the BJD.

The controversy also echoes a broader national debate. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly alleged that the Election Commission has failed in its constitutional duty of ensuring free and fair polls, accusing it of working under pressure from the ruling party. In his recent statements, Gandhi claimed that the poll body, instead of acting independently, has allowed the government to manipulate democratic institutions to its advantage. He described this as an “exposé” of how elections in India are being systematically tilted in favor of the BJP.

By linking its grievances in Odisha with Rahul Gandhi’s wider critique, the BJD has joined a growing chorus of opposition voices questioning the functioning of the Election Commission. Together, these parties argue that the institution’s credibility is at stake and that unless corrective measures are taken, public trust in India’s democratic process may face lasting damage.