Archive · 6 Oct 2026
BJD Joins Opposition March Over Voter Roll Deletions
Biju Janata Dal lawmakers joined a protest march led by opposition parties in New Delhi.
Their party leader, Naveen Patnaik, had asked all five of its Rajya Sabha members to take part.
The BJD said it wanted officials to review voter names that it says were wrongly removed in Odisha.
Police stopped the march, and some lawmakers were taken away in buses.
The protesters wanted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said opposition parties would keep working together on voter-roll concerns and delimitation.
The BJD said joining this protest did not mean it had joined either major political bloc.
Election officials said voter-roll checks are meant to make lists accurate and that eligible people can raise objections.
All five Biju Janata Dal Rajya Sabha members joined an INDIA bloc-led protest march in New Delhi, following instructions from party president Naveen Patnaik.
The BJD said it joined to protest the Election Commission’s alleged inaction on requests to review names reportedly deleted from Odisha voter rolls during the Special Intensive Revision.
Opposition MPs were stopped by police on Parliament Street, where they held a sit-in demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation; several were detained.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said opposition solidarity would continue over alleged “vote chori” and delimitation, and used the phrase “Bharatiya Jhoot Party” for the BJP.
The Election Commission and authorities said roll revision aims to improve accuracy and remove ineligible entries, and that eligible voters can file claims and objections.
- Who
- All five Biju Janata Dal Rajya Sabha members joined INDIA bloc MPs; Jairam Ramesh spoke for Congress.
- What
- They marched toward the Election Commission to protest the Special Intensive Revision and alleged voter-name deletions; protesters also demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
- When
- Tuesday, October 6; the year is not stated in the articles.
- Where
- New Delhi; reports say police stopped the march on Parliament Street and near the Akashvani building, close to Nirvachan Sadan.
- Why
- The BJD said it wanted the Election Commission to address its requests to review names allegedly deleted from Odisha electoral rolls.
Opposition and BJD concerns
Election authorities’ position
Voter-roll deletions
Opposition and BJD concerns
Opposition parties alleged the Special Intensive Revision caused many names to be deleted. The BJD said its requests for review of alleged deletions in Odisha went unaddressed.
Election authorities’ position
The Election Commission and authorities said revision is intended to ensure accurate rolls and remove ineligible entries, and that eligible voters can file claims and objections.
BJD’s political alignment
Opposition and BJD concerns
The BJD joined the INDIA bloc-led march on this issue, and Congress described the protest as part of opposition solidarity.
Election authorities’ position
Sulata Deo said the BJD was neither part of the INDIA alliance nor the NDA and characterized it as a responsible regional party.
- BJD participation
- All five of the party’s Rajya Sabha members joined the march, according to one report; Manas Mangaraj and Sulata Deo are specifically named in another.
- BJD leader
- Naveen Patnaik instructed the party’s Rajya Sabha MPs to participate.
- Issue raised
- The BJD cited requests to review names allegedly deleted from Odisha voter rolls during the Special Intensive Revision.
- Protest demand
- Protesters demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
- Police response
- Police stopped the march; several MPs were detained and taken away in buses.
- BJD political position
- Sulata Deo said the party was neither with the INDIA alliance nor the NDA.
- Election authorities’ position
- Authorities said roll revision seeks accurate rolls and removal of ineligible entries, with claims and objections available to eligible voters.
