BHUBANESWAR: The State Election Commission (SEC) today put on hold panchayat polls in Chitrokonda block of Malkangiri district because of the looming threat of Maoists. There will be no elections as scheduled in 18 gram panchayats and two Zilla Parishad zones of the block.
The SEC decided to put panchayat polls on hold on the basis of the joint report by Malkangiri district collector and superintendent of police. "After receiving the joint report from the district collector and SP, the SEC decided to put on hold polls in the block," a release from the Commission said. The joint report recommended that elections to Chitrakonda-1 and Chitrakonda-II Zilla Parishad seats in the Chitrakonda should be postponed taking into consideration the safety of the candidates, voters and officials engaged in poll duty.
The SEC maintained that in panchayats of the block where more than one nominees have filed nomination papers for the post of panchayat samiti member, sarpanch and ward member, election will be held later as per the final list of candidates.
Where there are one candidate for the post of panchayat samiti member, sarpanch and ward member, the list of those who have won election uncontested will be published later.
However, in places where no candidates have filed their nomination papers for these posts, the poll process has been cancelled, the release said. There was constant threat from the Maoists to the locals not to participate in the poll process and five election officials and a village chief were abducted from the cut-off area in Maoist-hit Malkangiri district on January 13.
Following Maoist threats, Sabitri Khemudu was the lone panchayat poll candidate who had filed nomination for samiti member post in the Gajalmamudi panchayat. She withdrew her nomination paper today.