Kendrapara gets new collector on EC directive

As per the directive of the EC, Orissa Govt has posted Pradip Kumar Panda, additional secretary in the finance department, as the new collector of Kendrapara district.

As per the directive of the Election Commission, Orissa government has posted Pradip Kumar Panda, additional secretary in the finance department, as the new collector of Kendrapara district.

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Panda replaces Hemant Sharma who was asked to proceed on leave, official sources said on Saturday.

Sharma was removed following an EC directive on Friday, which asked the government to remove him immediately and appoint another official in his place in consultation with the state's chief electoral officer.

The government was directed to report compliance by 1 pm today, the sources said.

Several prominent political leaders had demanded the removal of Sharma alleging that the Kendrapara district administration had been 'partisan' in conducting the polls.

Orissa Gana Parishad (OGP) president Bijay Mohapatra had demanded removal of both the district collector and the Superintendent of Police before the counting began on May 13.