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What happened
On November 10, 2025, Naveen Patnaik, the former Chief Minister of Odisha and BJD chief, voiced his strong displeasure regarding alleged violations of the model code of conduct in Nuapada. He accused ministers and MLAs from the ruling party of failing to vacate the district 36 hours before the upcoming bypoll on November 11, which is necessitated by the death of former minister Rajendra Dholakia. Patnaik stated that these actions undermine the democratic process and called for the Election Commission of India to enforce the silence period strictly. He also raised concerns about local BJD leaders being detained when they objected to the presence of BJP leaders, suggesting a bias in the local administration. Patnaik emphasized the importance of maintaining electoral integrity and urged the Election Commission to ensure fair conduct during the elections.
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Key insights
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Election Code Violations: Patnaik accused ruling party members of violating the silence period.
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Concerns Over Electoral Integrity: The situation raises questions about the fairness of the electoral process.
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Call for ECI Action: Patnaik urged the Election Commission to enforce regulations strictly.
Takeaways
The allegations made by Naveen Patnaik highlight significant concerns regarding the adherence to electoral regulations in Odisha, emphasizing the need for impartial enforcement by the Election Commission.