The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) joined the high-profile opposition demonstration on Parliament Street on Tuesday against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, while explicitly maintaining its political independence from both the opposition INDIA alliance and the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).Speaking during the demonstration in New Delhi, BJD Rajya Sabha MP Sulata Deo emphasized that the regional party was participating strictly as a responsible political entity concerned about large-scale voter roll manipulation.Highlighting the principled approach of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supremo Naveen Patnaik, party MP Sulata Deo declared in New Delhi that the regional outfit’s decision to protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar was driven strictly by Patnaik’s mandate to defend democratic rights.Deo underscored that Patnaik was among the first leaders to voice deep concern over mass voter roll deletions and to demand the poll chief’s resignation.She further alleged widespread corruption and electoral manipulation in the SIR process, invoking former BJD Rajya Sabha MP Amar Patnaik, who recently joined the BJP:Deo further pointed out that officials within the state electoral machinery were operating under unbearable administrative duress, pointing to the latest developments surrounding Odisha Chief Electoral Officer Santhana Gopalan.Party chief Naveen Patnaik has consistently demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, affirming that BJD’s presence in the street demonstrations is driven solely by the protection of citizens’ voting rights rather than alliance politics.
BJD MP Sulata Deo Hits Out at ECI, Cites Naveen Patnaik’s Stance: “27.5 Lakh Voters Deleted in Odisha Under SIR”
