The Orissa High Court on Monday directed the State Election Commission (SEC) to conduct Zilla Parishad President election in Malkangiri district.
The HC ordered to hold elections in 18 gram panchayats (GPs) of the Chitrakonda I and II zones in the district. Of the 13 Zilla Parishad zones in Malkangiri, elections to the two zones are yet to be held.
The SEC had earlier stayed elections to the two ZP zones of Chitrakonda block after receiving reports from the district Collector and Superintendent of Police to postpone the polls on grounds of safety and security of the candidates, voters and polling officials on duty in view of the Maoists’ threat against holding elections.
It may be noted that while the BJP as captured 10 ZP zones, the BJD managed to win just one seat in the district in the polls earlier held over five phases.