Odisha Panchayat Polls: State Election Commission Receives Proposals For Re-poll In 13 Places

The State Election Commission (SEC) on Saturday informed to have received proposals for re-polling at 13 places which witnessed violence and other disturbances during the conduct of the second phase polling for the three-tier Panchayat elections in the State on Friday.

Apart from the proposals to conduct re-polling at 13 places, reports have also been received regarding errors in ballot paper folding at 3 booths, said Secretary to the SEC, Rabindra Sahu.

Earlier, the Commission had received proposal for re-polling at 25 places in four districts based on the reports from the district Collectors following large-scale violence during the conduct of the first phase polls on February 16.

The re-poll proposals have been made for 11 booths in Jajpur district, five booths each in Puri and Bhadrak districts and four booths in Dhenkanal district.

“The Commission will take the necessary steps after reviewing the re-poll proposals soon,” said Sahu.

It is pertinent to mention here that allegations of violence, rigging and ballot box loot had surfaced during the conduct of the second phase polling for the Panchayat election yesterday.

Unidentified miscreants allegedly threw a ballot box into a pond in Jajpur district after looting it from booth number 9 at Dasarathpur Block in the district. Police-public face off was reported from Kathaumal under Gaisilet police limits in Bargarh district over some misunderstanding yesterday.