Arrest of 2 Presiding Officers in Ganjam Ordered by CEO, 3 Others Suspended

Bhubaneswar: For serious dereliction of duty during the conduct of first phase elections in Odisha on Monday, the state’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) ordered the suspension and arrest of two presiding officers posted in Ganjam district for serious dereliction of duty. Three other polling officers in Ganjam and Kalahandi districts were suspended.

The CEO ordered the Ganjam District Collector to put three presiding officers on suspension and arrest two of them as they committed serious dereliction of duty.

The presiding officers of polling booths number 27 and 163 in Chatrapur have been directed to be suspended and arrested. The presiding officer of polling station number 193 in Gopalpur has been suspended, informed CEO Nikuanja Bihari Dhal said.

The accused officials were allegedly found to be influencing voters to vote for a particular political party.

A polling officer posted at Narla in Kalahandi district and a presiding officer posted at Chikiti in Ganjam were placed under suspension over dereliction of duty.