BJD Seeks Transparent Election Audit: A Call for Reform

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has called for an independent audit of the election process and citizen monitoring, following allegations of irregularities. The party suggests involving independent auditors and citizen groups to ensure transparency, and tallying VVPAT slips with EVM counts to build public trust.

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) approached the Election Commission, pressing for a transparent audit of the election process amidst allegations of irregularities, following past complaints about vote discrepancies in the 2024 elections.

The BJD proposed a periodic 'process audit' conducted by independent auditors or CAG with public reports, and citizen group involvement in election monitoring, as is customary in other democratic countries.

Additionally, the party urged the tallying of VVPAT slips with EVM counts, and the establishment of a mechanism for concurrent booth-level audits to enhance trust in the electoral process. This call for transparency aligns with concerns raised by other opposition parties regarding duplicate voter IDs.

(With inputs from agencies.)