Week after SIR process, Odisha’s chief electoral officer opts for voluntary retirement

Responding to Gopalan’s VRS application, senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Arun Sahoo said that at a time when the Chief Election Commissioner is facing public outrage over exclusion of several names from the electoral roll, the decision of Odisha CEO has raised many questions.

“He wouldn’t have applied for VRS had there not been pressure from the state government,” Sahoo said.

Serving as CEO and principal secretary of Odisha’s excise department, Gopalan was scheduled to retire in September 2028.

‘May join private sector’

Sources said Gopalan had expressed his desire to apply for VRS in September but was waiting for the SIR process to be completed. The final electoral roll in Odisha was published on September 21. He may opt for some private sector now, they added.

The total number of voters in Odisha went down from 3.33 crore, before the SIR began, to 3.16 crore in the final roll.

After the CEO published the final electoral roll, Opposition parties alleged that names of many genuine voters were excluded.

Meanwhile, a senior state government official said following approval by the state government, Gopalan’s VRS application will be sent to the government of India for approval. “Once the Centre clears his VRS application, he will be relieved from duty,” said an official.

Gopalan’s decision to quit from the IAS came months after another young IPS officer posted in Odisha, Jagmohan Meena from the 2013-batch, resigned from service citing “personal reasons”.