BHUBANESHWAR: The state BJP today urged the State Election Commission to announce the election results of zilla parishads after completion of polls to the three-tier panchayati raj institutions (PRIs).
A delegation of the BJP comprising former minister Manmohan Samal, Samir Mohanty, Bhrugu Baxipatra and Lakhashri Samantsinghar met State Election Commissioner Rabinarayan Senapati and submitted a memorandum demanding free and fair
election to the PRIs.
Since election to gram panchayats, panchayat samitis and zilla parishad will be held in phases and only zilla parishad polls are fought on the basis of party symbols, it would not be fair to announce the results zilla panchayats before the completion of the polls, the BJP leaders said.
Announcement of first phase election results of zilla parishad will influence the mind of voters in favour of the party which performed better. It will amount to unfair election practice, the BJP
delegation said.
The BJP urged the SEC to use separate box for zilla parishad election and the ballot boxes should be kept in safe custody till all pjases of election in the state are complete.
The SEC is scheduled meet representatives of all political party next week to discuss issues relating to the ensuing panchayat polls.
State BJP vice-president Samir Mohanty said that his party will raise the matter in the next meeting.