Naveen Patnaik slams second ballot to BJP MLA in Odisha Rajya Sabha polls, calls it "undemocratic"

Bhubaneswar, March 16 -- Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Assembly, Naveen Patnaik, on Monday strongly objected to the issuance of a second ballot to Upasana Mohapatra, BJP MLA from Brahmagiri, during the Rajya Sabha elections in the state.

He termed the move "undemocratic, unconstitutional, and a violation of election procedures."Speaking to reporters at the Odisha Legislative Assembly while voting for four Rajya Sabha seats was underway, Patnaik said the Brahmagiri MLA had made a clear mistake while casting her vote.

He alleged that, contrary to established election procedures, the BJP MLA was issued a second ballot paper to cast her vote again. Patnaik described the action as "highly illegal" and against democratic norms.

The presid...