Bhubaneswar, Feb. 23: Congress and BJP today expressed concern over the "violence" perpetrated by the BJD during and after the panchayat polls.

The Assembly today witnessed uproarious scenes over the issue, forcing speaker Niranjan Pujari to adjourn the proceedings and later convene an all-party meeting in the afternoon.

Though the panchayat polls concluded yesterday, the political atmosphere in the state continued to remain charged as the results of sarpanch and ward member elections were announced today. Elections were held for 6,801 sarpanch and 91,000 odd ward member posts. Various political parties, including the BJD, claimed that their party supporters had won the majority of seats, even as elections for these seats were not fought on party symbols.

Yesterday, chief minister Naveen Patnaik had told party MLAs: "I am glad that in most of sarpa-nch, panchayat sam-iti member and ward member positions, candida-tes who have faith in the BJD have won in large numbers."

Later during the day today, BJD vice-president Surya Narayan Patro sparked off a controversy saying that he did not rule out rigging in the sarpanch elections. Patro said since the sarpanch election was not on party symbol basis, it could not be possible to rein in the aspirants. "Knowing that funds to the tune of Rs 70 to 80 lakh come to each and every gram panchayat, as many as seven to eight candidates contested the poll and tried to use musclemen to win at any cost. Under such circumstances, I can't rule out rigging in these polls," said Patro, opining that these polls should also be fought on party symbols, just like the zilla parishad elections.

Raising the issue of political violence during the rural polls, leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said: "Even after the poll is over, tension prevails in the state. Everyday, violence is taking place at one place or the other."

"Both the BJD and the BJP have made public allegations that money has played a very big role. The law and order situation turned grave because of free flow of money. Violent incidents were reported even from the chief minister's constituency. People took law unto their hands in many areas, as the police did not respond to their complaint."

BJP Legislature Party leader KV Singh Deo, apprehended that further violence may take place take place after official announcement of panchayat poll results on Saturday.

BJD chief whip Ananta Das, however, said the ruling party was in favour of holding a discussion on the issue. "But, it should be taken up after the official announcement of the poll results," he said.