Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday alleged that leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were violating the 36-hour silence period ahead of the Nuapada by-election, scheduled for November 11. He urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to take immediate action to ensure free and fair polling.
Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Patnaik stated that political leaders and campaigners from outside a constituency are required to leave the area once the legally mandated silence period begins.
“Contrary to this, we have reliable information that ministers, MLAs, and leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from outside Nuapada are freely moving around and attempting to influence voters through unfair means,” he alleged.
He further claimed that when local BJD leaders raised objections to such activities, they were detained by the police.
The hallmark of a true democracy lies in the conduct of free and fair elections. However, it has come to our notice that in #Nuapada, serious violations are taking place during the legally mandated silence period — 36 hours before polling.
As per the Election Commission’s…
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) November 10, 2025
“This clearly suggests that the district administration and local police are acting in a partisan manner, serving the interests of the ruling party rather than upholding electoral neutrality,” Patnaik said.
The BJD chief described the situation as striking at the very core of democratic fairness and said it undermines public faith in the electoral process. He warned that such actions, if allowed to continue, would cast a serious shadow on the integrity of the Nuapada polls. He also requested the commission to ensure that BJP leaders from outside the constituency vacate the area and to direct the district administration and police to act impartially.
Patnaik further urged the commission to closely monitor sensitive and vulnerable polling booths identified by the BJD and other opposition parties to prevent any manipulation.
“The people of India have inherited this democracy through the sacrifices of our forefathers, and it is the duty of every institution — especially the Election Commission — to protect it from erosion. We seek your urgent action to preserve the credibility of this election,” he added.
