Opposition BJD in Odisha Saturday said it will lodge a complaint with the Election Commission to seek “justice”, alleging that large-scale “state-sponsored manipulation” happened in the Nuapada bypoll.

The decision to lodge the complaint was taken at a meeting of the party’s political affairs committee (PAC), chaired by Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik.

“Though we had earlier lodged a complaint in this regard with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), there was no result. Therefore, the PAC today decided to approach the EC,” opposition chief whip Pramila Mallik said.

She claimed that votes for the BJD were “diverted” by means of EVM manipulation using “official machinery and money power”.

“Such rigging was observed in at least 63 polling booths. The votes given to the BJD by people

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