2 hrs ago
Odisha Electoral Officer Seeks Retirement After Final Voter Roll
Odisha’s chief electoral officer, R S Gopalan, has asked to retire early from government service.
He said he wants to spend more time on personal matters and his family.
He also said he plans to remain in Bhubaneswar until his son finishes school.
Gopalan said his decision was not connected to the voter-list revision process.
He said he had completed 25 years of government service.
The final voter list was published after the revision exercise.
It contains about 3.16 crore voters.
Opposition parties questioned why he sought retirement soon afterward.
They also alleged that many names were removed from the voter list, while Gopalan said he completed the exercise impartially and faced no pressure.
Odisha Chief Electoral Officer R S Gopalan has applied for voluntary retirement from government service.
The 2001-batch IAS officer said he made the decision for personal and family reasons.
Gopalan said his retirement request was unrelated to controversy over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
He said he completed 25 years in government service and applied after publication of the final voter roll.
The opposition BJD and Congress criticized the timing and raised allegations about voter deletions and data manipulation.
- Who
- R S Gopalan, Odisha’s chief electoral officer and a 2001-batch IAS officer.
- What
- Gopalan applied for voluntary retirement from government service.
- Where
- Odisha; Gopalan said he would remain in Bhubaneswar for his son’s schooling.
- When
- He applied days after publication of the final electoral roll; the reports say he had completed 25 years of service on September 2.
- Why
- Gopalan cited personal and family reasons, while opposition parties questioned whether the decision was connected to the SIR controversy.
Opposition parties’ concerns
Gopalan’s explanation
Connection to the SIR controversy
Opposition parties’ concerns
The BJD and Congress questioned the timing of Gopalan’s retirement request after the SIR process, with Congress calling it strange and the BJD linking it to alleged voter exclusions.
Gopalan’s explanation
Gopalan said the decision had nothing to do with the SIR exercise and that he discharged his duties impartially without pressure from anyone.
Voter deletions and data handling
Opposition parties’ concerns
The BJD alleged that more than 27.50 lakh voters were excluded and claimed the matter was being concealed; it also accused the chief electoral officer of manipulating voter data.
Gopalan’s explanation
Gopalan said the SIR exercise was successfully completed and described publication of the final electoral roll as completion of the major task, without accepting the allegations.
Reason for voluntary retirement
Opposition parties’ concerns
Opposition statements focused on the timing and sought to associate the decision with demands for his resignation over the SIR exercise.
Gopalan’s explanation
Gopalan said he had completed 25 years of service and wanted to concentrate on personal matters and his family, including his son’s schooling.
Key facts
- Official
- R S Gopalan
- Cadre and batch
- 2001-batch IAS officer
- Current position
- Odisha chief electoral officer; he also holds additional charge as Excise Department secretary
- Service milestone
- Completed 25 years in government service
- Final voter roll
- Contains around 3.16 crore voters
- Retirement timing
- Nearly 21 months before his scheduled superannuation in June 2028
- Stated reason
- Personal matters, including focusing on his family and his son’s education
Quotes
Bhakta Charan Das
Odisha Congress chief
“I wanted to take VRS for personal reasons. I would like to focus on personal matters. I will concentrate on my family and stay put in Bhubaneswar till my son's school education is completed.”
telegraphindia.com
“It has nothing to do with the SIR. In Odisha, we have successfully completed the SIR exercise and I discharged my duty impartially. There was absolutely no pressure from anyone.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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