Bhubaneswar: Even as Opposition BJP complained of misuse of government employees and machinery by the ruling BJD, Odisha’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) held a review meeting on preparation for by-election to Jharsuguda Assembly constituency on Saturday.
CEO Nikunja Bihari Dhal discussed various aspects of the preparation for the bypoll through video-conferencing. He stressed on maintaining law and order during the campaign and on the day of polling in the constituency.
Safe supply of electoral materials to the polling booths and security measures to prevent tampering during polling was also stressed at the meeting. Besides, the preparation for any exigency in the event of thunderstorm was also discussed.
The steps on enforcing restrictions on exit poll and security arrangements for strong rooms where the electronic voting machines (EVMs) would be kept after polling till counting day were analysed at the meeting. The byelection is scheduled to be held on May 10.
Among others, general observer Debakrishna Tiwari, police observer Hamid Akhtar, expenditure observer Raviraj Sahuraj Khogre, IG (law and order) Pravin Kumar, Jharsuguda collector S Narawane, SP P Purusottamdas and other senior officers participated in the meeting.
Meanwhile, a delegation of the BJP submitted a petition in the office of the CEO alleging that the ruling BJD was distributing money through women government employees to influence the voters for the bypoll.
