Bhubaneswar: Barring stray incidents, the second phase of the three-tier panchayat polls concluded peacefully across Odisha on Wednesday with 73 per cent voter turnout. The first phase poll held on February 13, recorded 71 per cent turnout. “The state witnessed 73 per cent turnout in the second phase panchayat polls. While Dhenkanal district recorded the […]
Bhubaneswar: The process of filing nomination papers for the ensuing panchayat elections in Odisha began on Wednesday while the major political parties were in the process of finalising their candidates. “Nomination filing has started on Wednesday. The process will continue till January 17,” said Rabindra Nath Sahu, secretary, State Election Commission. He said scrutiny of […]
Cuttack: The Orissa High Court on Thursday struck down an amendment brought in by the state government in the Odisha Zilla Parishad Election Rules of 1994. Striking down the amendment effected on March 8, a division bench led by Chief Justice Vineet Saran observed that rules, laws or acts governing a particular election shall not […]
Cuttack: The State Election Commission on Monday said in the Orissa High Court that no rules governing the elections should be altered midway once the poll process begins. SEC counsel Pitambar Acharya objecting to the recent amendment to Odisha Zilla Parishad Election rules argued that the Supreme Court had repeatedly observed that the government should […]
Bhubaneswar: Nearly 73 per cent of electorates today cast their votes during re-polling in 32 Wards spread over ten districts in Odisha, officials said. Re-polling was held in the districts of Bhadrak, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Nayagarh, Puri, Rayagada and Sambalpur where polling was disrupted during the last phase of polling yesterday, State Election […]
Bhubaneswar: In the wake of being asked by the State Election Commission (SEC), Odisha to curb any poll-related violence across state, Director General of Police (DGP) K B Singh today said all possible steps are being taken to prevent any untoward incident. Affirming that his office has received a letter from the SEC Rabinarayan Senapati, […]
Bhubaneswar : With violence continuing unabated across Odisha amid the ongoing Panchayat elections, the State Election Commission today asked the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police to ensure free and fair polling in the remaining three phases. “There are incidents of violence in the post-poll scenario at different places in the state, which is […]
Bhubaneswar: Mid way into the Panchayat elections in Odisha, the ruling BJD today called Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the “PM of BJP” and not of India. “Modi had mentioned BJP’s success in Odisha’s panchayat elections at an election rally at Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh yesterday. He was seeking votes from the people of UP […]
Jajpur:Jajpur District Election Officer-cum Collector Ranjan Kumar Das today suspended 57 government officials for not joining duty in the ensuing panchayat election. “The suspended officials include 22 presiding officers, 13 first polling officers, 21 second polling officers and lone third polling officer,” officials sources said. “These officials had been deployed to conduct both first and […]
Bhubaneswar: The ruling BJD today said it would review its poor performance in the ongoing three-tier panchayat election in some districts of Odisha, although its overall show was better than rivals. “We will certainly review the poor performance of the party in certain districts. Anyway, the BJD is still ahead of its rivals,” BJD vice-president […]
Kendrapara: Kendrapara district administration has initiated disciplinary proceedings against 35 government employees on charge of skipping poll duty without notice. The accused employees today did not turn up for preparatory duty for the third-phase of panchayat polls on February 17. The departmental heads, under whom the errant employees are officiating, have been directed to place […]
Sambalpur: A Sarpanch candidate in fray for the three-tier panchayat elections, Mani Pradhan, 35, and his supporter, Sudheer Patel, 40, died in a road accident. The incident took place last night when Pradhan was returning from campaigning in a bike which hit a tree at village Patrapali under the Kuchinda police limit. He was contesting […]
Jajpur: Though the first phase of panchayat elections in Jajpur district remained by and large peaceful, many voters who had voters’ identity cards were seen returning disappointed after not finding their names on the voters’ list. “I have exercised my franchise in every election for the last 25 years. I am surprised that my name […]
Kendrapara: The State Election Commission (SEC) in Odisha has exempted Forest officials working in wildlife parks and sanctuaries of two districts from election duty in the forthcoming panchayat polls in the state as it would hamper the ongoing wildlife and turtle protection drive. SEC secretary Rabindranath Sahoo said the Forest official from wildlife parks and […]
Kendrapara: Highly qualified candidates like IIT graduates, post graduates, law graduates and retired government servants are in the fray for the three-tier panchayat polls in Kendrapara district this time. Though in the past, highly educated people kept away from rural polls, this time they have expressed their desire to fight the polls for development of […]