The residents of Dhinkia gram panchayat under Ersama block in Jagatsinghpur district have opposed the move to shift polling booths from the area to nearby villages for the upcoming three-tier panchayat polls beginning February 16.
Dhinkia witnessed violent clash between police and locals over a proposed project of the JSW in the area last month.
According to a public notice issued by the Ersama block electoral officer, the polling booths for the six wards in Dhinkia have been shifted to negibouring Trilochanpur, Patana and Mahala in view of law and order situation.
However, the move has received vehement opposition from the candidates of different parties and local residents who rue that if the district administration claims there is no unrest in Dhinkia, polling booths should not be shifted to nearby villages.
“Why should we go to the neighbouring villages to cast our votes. The administration is claiming that normalcy has returned to the village, so there is no point in shifting the booths,” said a woman voter.
Parul Patwari, Jagatsinghpur collector said the administration is closely monitoring the present situation in the region. “After the violent clash between Dhinkia residents and police, we are holding talks with the locals to keep peace," Patwari said.
“I have been requesting the locals to maintain law and order situation in the village and assure that no one will trouble them. I cannot say anything about elections, as no decision has been taken at my level,” said Jagatsinghpur SP Akhileshwar Singh.