Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Jaydev Jena (right) at a news conference, accusing the state government of indulging in malpractice. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar/Kendrapara, April 22: The Election Commission today decided to conduct re-elections at nine polling stations in the state on April 25 where the second phase elections were held on April 17. The commission took the decision based on the reports of the state’s chief electoral officer.

On the other hand, the situation continues to be tense in Kendrapra district where police arrested 12 persons for the attack on the Marshagahi block development officer (BDO) on April 18. The BDO was roughed up and some other district officials heckled after a vehicle loaded with EVMs was found parked near the BDO’s official residence.

The re-polls will be held at six polling stations in Cuttack’s Niali and one each in Aul in Kendrapara and Telkoi and Ghasipura in Keonjhar. In Niali, goons had damaged the EVMs, while in Telkoi, the officials had forgotten to erase data from the machine after mock polling.

In Aul and Ghasipura, BJD agents had allegedly interfered in the polling.

Kendrapara SP Rabi Narayan Behera said: “We are making all efforts to arrest the accused involved in the attack on the Marshaghai BDO. The arrests were made after screening a video footage of the incident. Most of the arrested persons are the supporters of BJP and Congress.

Although prohibitory orders were lifted from most places on Monday, they will remain in force in Aul, Rajkanika and parts of Mahakalpada police station area until Friday, Behera said.

Demanding action against the culprits, a delegation of the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) met director-general of police Prakash Mishra. “The DGP has assured to initiate action against the culprits,” said association secretary Jyoti Ranjan Mishra.

Congress today stepped up its attack on chief electoral officer Mona Sharma for allegedly taking a partisan attitude. “The chief election officer has failed to win the trust of the Opposition parties. She remained blind to the rampant illegalities committed by the BJD government during the recent polls,” said Pradesh Congress Committee president Jaydev Jena.

Showing a video clipping on rigging in the area, Jena demanded re-polls in the Ghasipura Assembly seat. “The EVMs found in vehicles of the government officials involved in the election process in Mahakalpada, Baripada and Bhubaneswar (Central) expose their evil designs,” Jena said.

The Congress also raised questions on how Mayurbhanj collector Rajesh Pravakar Patil, against whom allegation of partisan attitude was made during the 2009 Assembly polls when he was returning officer for Athgarh constituency, was made the district election officer this time.

Jena also brought serious allegations against his party leaders. “We are collecting evidences how a section of our leaders worked against the party candidates,” said Jena.

However, senior Congress leader Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra and former Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik contested the views. “Such reckless statements should not be made by Jena,” said Mohapatra. Patnaik said if the party president had evidence, he should act against those leaders.

Senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra, who is contesting from Mahakalpada Assembly constituency, today met chief electoral officer Mona Sharma and lodged his protest about the mismanagement of election process in Kendrapara district.