General Elections 2024: Presiding officer placed under suspension in Odisha’s Cuttack

Cuttack: A presiding officer was suspended over alleged dereliction of election duty at polling booth No-75 of Niali Assembly constituency in Cuttack district and under Jagatsinghpur parliament segment, an order issued in this regard by Cuttack Collector Arindam Dakua mentioned.

The accused officer was identified as Laxminarayan Dash, who is a lecturer by profession.

According to a source, Dash was placed under suspension after he was found to have neglected his duty. Allegedly, he favoured a particular political party by misusing his power when discharging his duty in the polling booth.

Dash was canvassing the local voters to exercise their right to franchise in favour of a particular candidate fielded by the party. When polling was underway, he violated the model code of conduct (MCC) and Representation of the People Act, 1951 as well.

Worth mentioning, Cuttack district went to simultaneous polls to Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly. Elections were conducted in seven phases in the country and four phases in Odisha.

The twin polls in Odisha were held in four phases starting May 13. The other dates of polling were May 20, and May 25 including June 1.