Bhubaneswar: On the first day of the visit of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to Odisha, the Commission held important discussions with representatives of political parties in Bhubaneswar. These discussions were aimed at ensuring a comprehensive review of election preparedness and fostering cooperation among all stakeholders.
At the outset, the Commission sought the views and concerns of the representatives of various recognised national and regional political parties. The focus was on soliciting active cooperation to uphold the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in letter and spirit and to ensure a smooth electoral process. Each party had ample opportunity for a patient hearing of their perspectives and concerns by the Commission.
The Commission and the delegation delved into detailed discussions with District Collectors-cum- District Election Officers, and other officials responsible for election management across the state. They assessed various aspects such as the readiness of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), voter demographics, training status of election staff, and infrastructure setup at polling booths. The meeting involved high-ranking Police officers in the state as well.
The high-level delegation comprised Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, Election Commissioner of India, Arun Goel, Senior Deputy Election Commissioners Dharmendra Sharma and Nitesh Vyas, Deputy Election Commissioner Manoj Kumar Sahu, Director General of Media and B Narayanan. Chief Electoral Officer of Odisha & Additional Chief Secretary to Government Nikunja Bihari Dhal and Additional Chief Electoral Officer Dr N Thirumala Naik were also part of the review meeting.
