Odisha Polls: Three collectors, DIG transferred for ‘nexus’ with BJD

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Apr 4:

Acting on the directive of the Election Commission of India, the Odisha government on Thursday night transferred three district collectors and the DIG, southern range.

The order was carried out late on Thursday night following allegations by five political parties- that these officials were working as agents of the ruling BJD- before the Election Commissioners HS Brahma and Dr Nasim Zaidi at a meeting here on April 2.

As per the order, Labour commissioner Shalini Pandit has been appointed the collector of Khordha in place of Niranjan Sahu while Excise commissioner Nitin Bhanudas Jawale has been posted as Kendrapara collector in place of Ratnakar Rout.

Besides, the state government also transferred Nabarangpur collector Shyam Sundar Nayak and posted Sadiq Alam, Project Director, DRDA, Malkangiri in his place while IG Susant Nath has been given the charge of the southern range in place of DIG Amitabh Thakur.

The political parties had alleged the use of police vehicles and ambulance vans for transportation and distribution of cash among the party workers and voters.

The representatives of the five political parties had also complained against Special DG Sanjib Marik for extending support and cooperation to the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in its election work.

It may be mentioned that the Election Commissioner HS Brahma, in a press briefing on Wednesday, had made it clear that disciplinary action would be taken against these aforesaid officials if the allegations against them were found to be true.

The Commission, after getting the evidence against these officials, directed the state government for their immediate transfer. Apart from this, it also asked the government to submit a panel of officers for replacement of the three district collectors.

Later, it finalized the name of three officials from the panel on the basis of which the state government effected the reshuffle.