Panchayat Elections: Odisha SEC Directs DGP To Ensure Peaceful Polling In Rest 4 Phases

Bhubaneswar: The State Election Commission on Wednesday took a serious note of violent incidents during panchayat elections in the state and directed the Direct General of Police (DGP) to ensure peaceful polling in next four phases.

The SEC, in a release, stated that the violent incidents in some parts of the state during the first phase of panchayat elections have come to notice of the Commission. Such incidents, particularly in Puri and Jajpur districts, have been found to have disrupted the voting process, it added.

Considering the criminal activities, the SEC has directed the DGP to tighten the security measures to ensure the elections to three-tier panchayati raj institutions without any law and order problem.

Meanwhile, briefing the media after the end of polling on the day, State Election Commissioner Aditya Prasad Padhi said voting process was completed peacefully barring stray incidents of disturbances in 22,379 booths for 200 zilla paraishad member posts of 1,669 panchayats in 71 blocks.

More than 71,51,000 voters exercised their franchise with around 70% turn-out in the first phase of polling on the day, he added.

The Commissioner further said as per the preliminary report, polling in 3 booths of Dhenkanal district, 7 in Jajpur and 5 in Puri have been affected due to disturbances. The Commission will take necessary steps after getting the reports from respective district collectors in this regard, he added.