Led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, the team arrived in Bhubaneswar on Thursday night on a three-day visit to the state as part of the exercise to assess and review the state’s preparedness for the forthcoming twin elections.

The team comprises Election Commissioner Arun Goel, Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Dharmender Sharma, Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Nitesh Kumar Vyas, and others.

The review meeting held in Bhubaneswar to assess the poll preparedness was chaired by CEC Rajiv Kumar and EC Arun Goel, official sources said.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Odisha Nikunja Bihari Dhal and senior police and other officials were present at the review meeting.

The team held discussions with several national and regional political parties on different aspects of the coming polls.

During its visit, the ECI team will hold discussions with District Election Officers (DEOs), Superintendents of Police (SPs), enforcement agencies, State Nodal officers, and senior officials of Odisha to review the preparedness.

This apart, the team will take stock of the status of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and booth-level preparedness for the simultaneous elections.

As per reports, ECI plans to install cameras at around 60 per cent booths in the state as part of measures to maintain law and order during elections. Steps will also be taken for surveillance through drones in densely populated areas of the state.

Nikunja B Dhal, Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha briefed Senior Deputy Election Commissioners (DECs) Dharmendra Sharma and Nitesh Ku Vyas at the review meeting with 30 district election officers and collectors at Kharavela Bhawan in Bhubaneswar on December 12 and 13.

Dhal outlined the overall progress of SSR and general preparedness of state machinery for the elections in 2024 while the Collectors made a detailed presentation.

Senior DECs emphasised on early disposal of all pending forms for addition, deletion and corrections before the scheduled time fixed by the ECI. They directed to focus on women, young, elderly, PwD, Third Gender and PVTG electors to ensure that the Electoral Roll is inclusive. Consultation with political parties and stakeholders was also stressed.

They said careful and diligent field verification for deletions and additions should be followed for the purity of Electoral Roll. The collectors were sensitised on vulnerability mapping. They were also instructed to identify possible routes of movement of cash, liquor, drugs and ensure effective enforcement mechanisms for inducement-free elections.

Sajay Kumar, Addl DG (Law and Order) and senior officers of the CEO office were present during the review meeting.

The incumbent Vice President of India is Venkaiah Naidu whose term will end on August 10 .

The scrutiny of nomination papers will be done on July 20 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is July 22.

The schedule for the vice-presidential election was finalised at a meeting of Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey.

The vice president of India, who also serves as the chairman of the Rajya Sabha, is elected by the members of the electoral college consisting of the members of both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.

For the 16th Vice Presidential Election, the electoral college consists of 233 elected members of Rajya Sabha, 12 nominated members of Rajya Sabha, and 543 elected members of Lok Sabha, the ECI said in a press note.

By Nilanchal Naik