Former Odisha CM demands thorough inquiry into EVM discrepancies in 2024 elections-OxBig News Network

Former Odisha chief minister and BJD President Naveen Patnaik. File.
| Photo Credit: PTI

 Former Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal supremo Naveen Patnaik, known for his restrained public statements, has called for an inquiry into alleged discrepancies in EVM voting during the 2024 Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

Mr. Patnaik admitted that his party lost the elections as it could not effectively counter ‘lies and false promises’ allegedly spread by Bharatiya Janata Party in social media. He was speaking at party’s 28^th foundation day celebrations here on Thursday.

When asked about his party’s submission of a petition highlighting suspected electoral discrepancies in the last elections with Election Commission of India, the veteran leader remarked, “It certainly seems to point in that direction. This matter must be examined carefully and thoroughly. I don’t understand why the BJP is worried about EVMs. No one has accused them of anything yet. This needs to be investigated.” He said his party was in favour of use of ballot papers in elections.

The BJD on Monday had raised serious concerns about alleged discrepancies in the voting patterns observed during the 2024 general and assembly elections The party’s claims came after analysis of voting data of Election Commission of India (ECI).

Reflecting on the party’s loss, which ended its uninterrupted rule in Odisha, Mr. Patnaik stated, “We have neither lost the elections nor the trust of the people. The BJP has come to power by misleading the public with a barrage of lies and false promises. Despite all their falsehoods, BJP has got less votes than us.”

“Our mistake was we could not counter their lies and false narratives on social medias. People of Odisha have realized that BJP has come to power by telling lies. I urge our cadres to remain in active social media and give befitting reply to BJP’s false narratives,” he said.

“During past six months, the rise in prices of essential commodities is biggest gift of BJP for people of Odisha. Prices of rice, edible oil and vegetables have skyrocketed. People suffer from this. Farmers are in distress due to mess in paddy procurement. The women under Mission Shakti programme are also worried about their future. When would the present government wake from deep slumber?,” Mr. Patnaik wondered.

On party’s future, the BJD President said, “when our party was established on December 26, 1997, then many people doubted that the party would not survive, it would not grow and would not succeed. Some said I don’t know politics. Due to blessings of people and efforts of our cadres, BJD has won elections consecutively for five times.”

“During past 24 years, BJD Government had given Odisha an identity of prosperous and strong State. Like those who predicted doom for the party in1997, now some critics are repeating the same. I strongly want to tell that BJD’s future is bright. BJD has been embedded with the emotion of Odisha people,” he said.

Mr. Patnaik termed Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement on Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar as unfortunate. (EOM)