EC Official's Visit To Odisha In Sept Triggers Speculation Of Early Polls

Bhubaneswar, Aug 29: The scheduled visit of a senior Election Commission of India (ECI) official to Odisha in September has fuelled speculation about the possibility of the State going to early Assembly polls.

According to media reports, the official is set to visit Odisha to take stock of the election preparedness and meet stakeholders associated with the election process. 

However, Odisha Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nikunja Dhal has dismissed such speculation, maintaining that the visit of the official in September is a route affair as the scale of the election process takes ample time for preparation.

“We need to procure materials, train manpower and manually print documents. We usually start preparations at the right time. Our preparations have nothing to do with the early election in Odisha. I had told this earlier also,” Dhal was quoted as saying to the media.

He said that EVMs have already arrived in the State along with VVPATs for some districts and their examinations will take place in October. 

The Assembly elections in Odisha are conducted along with Lok Sabha polls. The term of the present Government ends on June 24, 2024.