Bhubaneswar, May 5 (IANS) Odisha Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) R.S. Gopalan is scheduled to meet a delegation of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on May 11 over the alleged illegal issuance of a second ballot paper to legislators, Upasana Mohapatra and Purna Chandra Sethy, during the biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha held on March 16.

As per the instructions of the BJD President Naveen Patnaik, senior party leader Sasmit Patra on April 28 submitted an urgent representation to the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding the issue, officials said on Tuesday.

Acting on the representation, Rajendra Kumar Singh, Election Commission of India Under Secretary, on April 29 addressed a communication to the Odisha CEO, requesting an urgent appointment with the BJD delegation to examine the matter.

“Subsequently, Odisha CEO has scheduled a meeting with the BJD delegation on May 11 at 11 a.m.,” the regional party told in a statement on Tuesday.

Following the directions of BJD President Naveen Patnaik, a party delegation led by Prasanna Acharya, Deputy Leader of the BJD Legislature Party in the Odisha Assembly, will meet the Odisha CEO Gopalan on May 11.

The delegation will also include Pramila Mallik, senior BJD leader and party Chief Whip, as well as polling agent for the Rajya Sabha elections; Deputy Chief Whip of the BJD and party-authorised agent Pratap Deb; Arun Kumar Sahoo, MLA and counting agent for the Rajya Sabha polls; and Sasmit Patra, BJD MP and counting agent for the Rajya Sabha elections, who is also the petitioner in the matter.

The BJD reiterates its demand for immediate statutory action into the alleged irregularities and seeks a fair and transparent inquiry to uphold the sanctity of the electoral process.

During the polling for four Rajya Sabha seats, the Opposition BJD had raised serious objections over the alleged issuance of second ballot papers by the officers present in the voting room, who are in charge of the polls.

–IANS

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