CEO recommends re-poll in 12 booths, asks parties not to worry

Odisha Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Surendra Kumar on Saturday said he has recommended fresh polling in 12 booths spread over eight assembly segments and asked political parties not to be worried about the safety of EVMs.

The fresh polling is recommended after irregularities were noticed in those booths during the third phase polling held on April 23, he said.

"We have recommended the Election Commission of India to hold re-poll in 12 booths in Odisha," Kumar told reporters.

Asked whether the re-polls will be held during the fourth-phase on April 29, he said it will be done after that to ensure proper management and monitoring.

These 12 booths are located in Brahmagiri, Baramba, Deogarh, Satyabadi, Talcher, Athagarh, Bhubaneswar Central and Ghasipura assembly constituencies.

Earlier, re-polling was held in nine booths on April 25 following reports of irregularities during the second-phase polls in the state on April 18.

Referring to an incident in Keonjhar district where the police detained a youth for his suspicious movements near the EVM strong room, Kumar said, "EVMs are in the safe hands of the Border Security Force. No local police is deployed in the inner circle of the strong room. No one should suspect on the safety of the EVMs."