BJP candidate in Odisha arrested for vandalising EVM
Prashant Jagdev, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Odisha’s Khordha Assembly constituency, has been arrested for allegedly vandalising an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) during polling on Saturday.
Elections to Lok Sabha and Assembly seats are taking place simultaneously in Odisha in four phases.
Mr. Jagdev, the sitting MLA from Chilika Assembly constituency, is no stranger to controversy. In 2022, he allegedly tried to run over BJP cadres with his SUV when he was in the Biju Janata Dal. Several cases in connection with manhandling government ocials and political opponents are pending against him, ocials said.
The latest incident took place when Mr. Jagadev came to booth no. 114 of Kaunripatana under Bolagarh block in Khordha to vote and misbehaved with ocials on poll duty.
He was booked under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for outraging the modesty of a poll ocial and voluntarily causing hurt, and the oence of undue inuence at elections,
Prashant Jagdev was seen manhandling a woman polling sta in the webcasting system at the polling booth in Khordha on May 25, police said
among other charges. According to the police, Mr. Jagdev was seen manhandling a woman polling sta in the webcasting system at the booth. The charges levelled against him were opposed by his supporters who demanded that the CCTV footage of the incident be made public. A court later sent him to judicial custody, and at present, he is lodged at the Khorda jail, ocials said.
Meanwhile, the oce of the Chief Electoral Ocer has directed the Angul District Collector to inquire about the alleged attack on BJP workers by BJD MLA Susanta Kumar Behera in Chhendipada Assembly constituency and submit an action taken report.
There are 21 Lok Sabha constituencies in the State, and a 147-member Assembly. Polling for the rst three phases was held on May 13, May 20, May 25, respectively. The last phase will be held on June 1.