May 13th 2024.
In Bhubaneswar, the Chief Electoral Officer of Odisha, Nikunja Bihari Dhal, took decisive action on Monday as he suspended three polling officials and ordered the police to arrest two of them. This was due to their serious negligence in carrying out their duties.
During a press conference, Dhal shared, "We have instructed the Ganjam collector to suspend the presiding officers of three polling booths and take two of them into custody for their grave misconduct." As a result, the presiding officer of polling booth number 193 in Gopalpur assembly constituency has been suspended. Additionally, the presiding officers of booth numbers 27 and 163 in Chatrapur Assembly segment, both located in Ganjam district, have also been relieved of their duties and the police have been directed to make arrests.
Earlier in the day, the CEO had already taken action against two other polling officials in Narla Assembly constituency in Kalahandi district and Chikiti assembly seat in Ganjam district. This brings the total number of suspensions to five, as these officials were found to have engaged in serious misconduct during the election process.
To ensure that everything is running smoothly, the CEO and his team are constantly monitoring the election process through direct webcasting from the polling booths. This is a crucial step in promoting transparency and fairness in the electoral process.
Voting commenced at 7 am in a total of 7,303 polling stations across Berhampur, Koraput, Nabarangpur, and Kalahandi Lok Sabha constituencies. In addition, 28 assembly segments under these parliamentary seats are also holding elections. As of 3 pm, 52.91 percent of the voters have already exercised their right to vote.
The highest voter turnout of 58 percent was recorded in the tribal-dominated Kalahandi Lok Sabha seat, followed by Nabarangpur, Koraput, and Berhampur. Dhal expressed his satisfaction with the voter turnout and urged all citizens to exercise their right to vote in order to make their voices heard. The CEO and his team will continue to closely monitor the situation to ensure a fair and successful election process.
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