District Collector Nitin Bhanudas Jawale on Friday suspended Ganeswar Jena, who was engaged as the Presiding Officer of a polling team to conduct poll at booth no-185 on April 17 for encouraging proxy voting. Jena is a lecturer of the Nalini Mohanty Mahavidyalaya in Chandibaunsamula under Rajnagar block.
Similarly, Returning Officer –cum-ADM, Kendrapara Umakanta Swain lodged an FIR against five persons, including four agents, for their alleged involvement in organising proxy voting on April 17 polls at the same booth set up at Jenavaliwibad Primary School under the Ali Assembly segment.According to Jawale, the four agents are Managobinda Das (BJD MP), Bhagabata Das (Congress MP), Ramakanta Das (BJD MlA) and Arjuni Charan Das (Congress MlA). ADM Swain also lodged an FIR against one Nrushingha Jena for his involvement in proxy vote.
The CEO had decided to organize re-poll for the booth as massive proxy voting was done on April 17. The re-poll was held on Friday in tight police arrangements. As many as 74.25 per cent polling was recorded.According to official sources, 747 voters, including 367 females, out of 1,012 voters exercised their franchise in the re-poll. On April 17, a total of 708 voters had cast their votes.