Shift DEO, put off polls: BJP

BHUBANESWAR: Alleging that the district election officer (DEO) of Gajapati is working in a partisan manner, the BJP on Monday urged the State Election Commission (SEC) to postpone the last-phase panchayat election in the district on February 19. Filing a petition against the Gajapati Collector, who is also the DEO, BJP spokesperson Ashok Sahu said free and fair election is not possible under the incumbent officer. He urged the SEC to shift the Collector and post a new officer in his place.