BHUBANESWAR: Former Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik has raised an alarm over the alleged "horse-trading" attempts by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the state ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for Monday.
Reacting to the development in the state, Patnaik has said that he firmly believes in democracy but feels “scared” that democratic principles are being undermined.
The BJD chief alleged that despite lacking adequate numbers, the ruling party has fielded a fifth candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls and is claiming victory, raising serious questions about the integrity of the electoral process.
Patnaik condemned the alleged attempts to influence elected representatives and urged both the media and the public to remain vigilant.
He said strict monitoring of the activities of leaders and members of the ruling party was necessary to safeguard democracy and to ensure that elected representatives cast their votes in accordance with the Constitution and the norms laid down by the Election Commission of India.