Following the call of the Maoists to people to boycott the upcoming panchayat elections and their subsequent abduction of poll officials in Malkangiri district, the State Election Commission (SEC) on Monday informed that any decision on whether to announce a new poll schedule for the cutoff areas in the district would be taken after withdrawal of candidatures scheduled on January 22.
SEC Secretary Rabindra Sahu told reporters here, “Filing of nominations is left for another two days. Once the process gets over tomorrow, the SEC will take a decision after assessing the situation not only for Malkangiri but other places as well where similar situations have occurred.”
“As per the poll norms, if a nomination is not filed for any panchayat due to any reasons in the first phase, a new schedule is announced by the SEC. In case all the nominations are rejected or withdrawn, a new schedule is also declared.”
Meanwhile on Sunday, the CPI(Maoist) Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee issued a Press release asking people of the cutoff areas to boycott the panchayat polls, leaving the SEC and the State administration in a tizzy.