As per the directive of the Election Commission of India, the State’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has cancelled the Dussehra vacation for Government employees of four districts engaged in the Kandhamal lok Sabha by-election scheduled on October 15.
Announcing this at a Press briefing here on Tuesday, CEO Dr Mona Sharma said all preparatory measures for the by-poll have been completed.
Besides the Government employees of Kandhamal district, the Puja vacation of staff in Ganjam, Nayagarh and Boudh districts engaged in the by-election has also been cancelled as some of the booths come under Kandhamal lok Sabha constituency in these areas. In a letter, the CEO has asked the Collectors of these districts to carry out the order with immediate effect.
A total of 6,080 Government employees have been engaged for the by-election to be held in 1,497 booths. Training of the employees deployed in the booths has begun, Sharma added.
Stating that 2, 000 electronic voting machines (EVMs) have been arranged for the by-election, she said the EVMs would be commissioned on October 6 and 7.
To ensure law and order during the by-poll, flying squads and surveillance teams have already been deployed in all polling booths, she said, adding that a poll observer from outside the State, who has arrived to oversee the poll proceedings, would be accompanied by three senior OAS officers. On the issue of Maoist threat in Nayagarh, Ganjam, Boudh and Kandhamal districts during the by-poll, Sharma said that while there are already adequate numbers of security personnel in these districts, more Central forces would be deployed if need arises. Underscoring the need for video recording of the polling in the booths located in the remote areas, the CEO said work is underway to identify sensitive booths on the basis of the reports of the concerned district Collectors.