Bijepur by-poll: Odisha govt appoints new Collector, SP for Bargarh

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has appointed Yamini Sarangi and Jai Narayan Pankaj as the Collector and SP of Bargarh district respectively ahead of the by-election to Bijepur Assembly segment.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) cleared the names of Sarangi and Pankaj from among the list of three each IAS and IPS officers recommended by the state government recently. Both Sarangi and Pankaj are currently posted as district collector and SP in Jagatsighpur.

The Bijepur by-poll is scheduled for February 24.

The Election Commission decided to change Bargarh Collector Khagendra Kumar Padhi and SP Jugal Kishor Kumar Banoth after BJP approached the Chief Election Commissioner seeking transfer of existing officials.

The BJP had alleged that a free and fair by-poll cannot be held in Bijepur if the officials are not transferred.