BJP candidate arrested for vandalizing EVMs and assaulting polling officer

BHUBANESWAR: A BJP candidate who vandalized EVMs and assaulted a polling officer during polling in Odisha's Khurda district has been arrested. Chilika MLA and Kurd constituency candidate Prashant Jagdev has been arrested. The incident took place on the last day of the sixth phase of polling. The MLA, who came to the booth with his supporters, argued with the polling officer and vandalized the machines.

Bhubaneswar constituency BJP candidate Aparajita Sarangi was also present. After the attack, both escaped in a car. The police followed and took him into custody. Prashant was then produced in the court and released in judicial custody. He currently in Khurda jail. The SP said that the case was registered under various sections of the IPC in addition to the Representation of the People Act. Officials informed that many people had to wait in the queue for a long time as the machine broke down during voting.

Prashant Jagdev, who was earlier in BJD, joined BJP last year. In March 2022, Prashant Jagdev was arrested for beating the town president of BJP.

15 people were injured in the incident. Later, he was expelled from BJD. Then Prashant Jagdev, who joined BJP was given a seat in the Khurda constituency.