Bhubaneswar: With Phase III elections in Odisha approaching fast, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nikunja Bihari Dhal has asserted that any form of violence, intimidation, or threats to voters and candidates will not be tolerated during the polls.
Urging political parties to refrain from violence, Dhal said, “Pre-poll violence has been reported from some places. Election Commission of India is committed to free and fair polling. ECI has made it clear that there is absolutely no tolerance for any form of violence in this celebration of democracy. So, political parties should refrain from violence and ensure free and fair polling scheduled to be held on May 25 for six Lok Sabha and 42 Assembly seats in Odisha.”
Talking about poll preparedness and law and order situation at constituencies going for polling on Saturday, Dhal said, “As many as 121 Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) teams have been deployed to ensure violence-free elections.”
As per the data provided by CEO, 12 CAPF teams for Sambalpur Lok Sabha constituency, two CAPF teams for Deogarh, 12 CAPF teams for Angul, eight for Dhenkanal, two for Mayurbhanj, 17 for Keonjhar, 11 for Cuttack (rural), eight for Cuttack Sadar, 13 for Bhubaneswar Sadar, 11 for Khurda, 11 for Puri and 14 for Nayagarh Lok Sabha constituencies have been deployed.
The CEO has also called upon voters to cast exercise their franchise in large numbers and celebrate the festival of democracy.
As many as 94.48 lakh electors in the six parliamentary constituencies of Sambalpur, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Cuttack, Puri and Bhubaneswar and the 42 assembly segments will be exercising their franchise on May 25.
