Bhubaneswar: Even as polling in the Nuapada Assembly by-election picked up pace through the morning, with 31.25 per cent voter turnout by 11 am, the BJD on Tuesday accused the ruling BJP of violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

In a letter to the District Election Officer-cum-District Collector, Nuapada, the regional party complained about illegal distribution of food by BJP workers near several polling booths in the Assembly constituency. “BJP workers have set up temporary tiffin distribution counters and are distributing free tiffin to voters queuing up to cast their votes,” the letter said. ADVERTISEMENT

The BJD noted that this was in violation of the MCC Clause 2(vii), which clearly states no hospitality/food to voters by candidate/party agents.

Later addressing a presser, BJD

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