Bhubaneswar: The BJP on Thursday urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to direct Odisha government to remove Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sushil Kumar Lohani from his post with immediate effect.
Talking to mediapersons, BJP state general secretary Lekhashree Samantsinghar said while the electoral process for Pipili bypoll has already started, it is a matter of utter surprise that the CEO, who is conducting the polls, has been given the additional charge of Principal Secretary, Excise by the state government.
“We want a clarification from the state government that since it has done the unlawful act by giving the additional charge to the CEO, how the ensuing bypoll will be conducted in an unbiased and transparent manner?” Lekashree said.
She further said since the CEO is the representative of the ECI, he cannot hold a government post.
“We have sought a clarification in this regard from the state government as to why it is yet to relieve the CEO of his additional charge. We have also requested the ECI to direct the state government to either remove the CEO from his post or relieve him of the additional charge at the earliest,” the BJP leader pointed out.
