Bhubaneswar, March 16 -- Former Chief Minister of Odisha and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader, Naveen Patnaik, on Monday slammed the BJP over the Rajya Sabha elections, alleging horse-trading and involvement of individuals with criminal backgrounds.

Patnaik told the media, "As has been discussed in the last few days about the BJP and their allies, it is clear what is meant for the horse trading they will do. They have collected a number of people to work for them. Most of them have criminal pasts, I am ashamed to say. Check for yourselves how many of their parents went to jail, or have themselves been threatened by jail. And as recently as yesterday, BJP MLAs were kept in Paradip."

Earlier today, Patnaik alleged irregularities during voting...