Bhubaneswar: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar abruptly ended his three-day tour of Odisha on Sunday evening, returning to New Delhi after learning of a serious accident involving his father in the national capital.
The sudden departure forced the cancellation of a key meeting planned for Monday with approximately 700 booth-level officers (BLOs) from Khurda and Cuttack districts in Bhubaneswar. The session was intended to prepare for the potential rollout of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Odisha, a process aimed at ensuring accurate voter lists ahead of future elections.
Kumar, who arrived in the state on Saturday, was in the midst of sightseeing with his wife when he received the news. “Due to the unfortunate accident involving the CEC’s father, he had to cancel all programmes scheduled for the third day, including the meeting with BLOs, and rushed back to New Delhi on Sunday evening. His father is scheduled to undergo surgery on Monday,” Odisha chief electoral officer R S Gopalan told TOI.
Gopalan further informed that Kumar would return to Odisha soon for the BLO meeting.
During his brief stay, Kumar explored several iconic sites, including Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Konark Sun Temple, the heritage crafts village of Raghurajpur, Dhauli Peace Pagoda, Khandagiri-Udayagiri caves, and Mukteswar Temple.
He particularly lauded the artisans of Raghurajpur for preserving ancient Indian traditions through Pattachitra paintings and other crafts, calling their work worthy of national appreciation and urging visitors from across the country to experience the village’s unique heritage. Kumar was also moved by a performance of Gotipua dance by young artists there.
At Konark, he described the Sun Temple as a symbol of India’s ancient scientific and cultural advancement, terming it the “honour and pride” of the nation.
In Dhauli, he reflected on Emperor Ashoka’s historic message of peace, while admiring the enduring Kalinga architecture at Mukteswar and the ancient caves. “Visiting the Dhauli Shanti Stupa, one experiences a profound sense of peace, a message that Emperor Ashoka conveyed to the entire country and the whole world. Even today, India stands firmly for peace and, following the path shown by Emperor Ashoka, is emerging as a developed nation,” he noted.
He described Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves in Bhubaneswar as symbols of cultural heritage. “Even 2,000 years ago, our artisans created such vibrant artworks that have been preserved to this day. These sites also give us deep insight into Jainism. We were fortunate to visit Bhubaneswar and witness these caves, it was an amazing experience…,” he said.
Expressing regret over his sudden departure from the state, Kumar said that Odisha’s art, architecture, hospitality and natural beauty have greatly impressed him, and assured the people that he will definitely visit the place again, the PTI reported.
