Bhubaneswar: Senior Odisha Cadre IAS officer R. Santhanagopalan has been appointed as the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO)of Odisha. The Election Commission of India (ECI) issued a notification in this regard on Tuesday.
Santhanagopalan will replace Nikunja Dhal as the Odisha CEO.
“The Election Commission of India in consultation with the Government of Odisha hereby designates Shri R. Santhanagopalan, IAS, (OR:2001) as the Chief Electoral Officer for the State of Odisha with effect from the date he takes over charge and until further orders in place of Shri Nikunja Bihari Dhal,” the notification read.
As peer the notification, he will hand over forthwith the charge of all or any charges of work under the Government of Odisha before he assumed the office.
Santhanagopalan while functioning as the Chief Electoral Officer can’t hold any additional charge under the State Government except that he should be designated Secretary to the Government in charge of Election Department in the State Secretariat, the notification added.
The EC directed Odisha Chief Secretary to ensure that Santhanagopalan takes over the charge of Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha immediately.
