Bhubaneswar: A delegation from the Election Commission of India (ECI), led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, arrived in the capital city today for a comprehensive three-day visit to Odisha in preparation for the upcoming simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in the state.
The ECI team, comprising Election Commissioner Arun Goel, Senior Deputy Election Commissioners Dharmendra Sharma and Nitesh Vyas, Deputy Election Commissioner Manoj Kumar Sahoo, Director General B Narayanan, Director Pankaj Srivastava, and Secretary Rakesh Kumar, will assess the readiness for the 2024 General and Assembly elections in Odisha, sources stated.
Key aspects of the review include evaluating the status of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and the preparedness at the booth level for the concurrent polls. The team is scheduled to engage in discussions with Chief Secretary PK Jena, Director General of Police (in-charge) Arun Sarangi, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nikunja Bihari Dhal, Development Commissioner Anu Garg, Home department Additional Chief Secretary Deoranjan Kumar Singh, and all district Collectors and Superintendents of Police (SPs) in Odisha.
On February 16, the ECI team plans to hold discussions with representatives from all political parties. Subsequently, on February 17, they are scheduled to meet with the Chief Secretary, CEO, DGP, and other senior officials. The CEC will conclude the visit with a press conference on the same day, as per official sources.
In preparation for the twin elections, the Odisha Police has initiated necessary measures to ensure smooth conduct. Speaking at a training camp at Police Bhawan in the capital city today, the Chief Electoral Officer emphasized the importance of taking stringent actions against illegal activities, including cash and liquor distribution among voters during the polls.
“The ECI has planned to install cameras at around 60 percent of booths in Odisha. Steps will be taken for surveillance through drones in densely populated areas of the state,” added the CEO.
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