Bhubaneswar, Jan 31: Retired IAS officer Madhusudan Padhi officially took charge as the new State Election Commissioner (SEC) of Odisha on Friday, succeeding Aditya Prasad Padhi. The appointment comes after Padhi's term ended in August 2024, during which he continued in the role due to delays in the state government's decision to appoint a new commissioner.

Upon assuming his new responsibilities, Madhusudan Padhi expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him by the state government and emphasized his commitment to ensuring the upcoming municipal and panchayat elections are conducted smoothly and impartially. He acknowledged that overseeing orderly and unbiased elections would present significant challenges but drew confidence from his extensive experience in various important roles throughout his career.

Padhi highlighted the importance of attracting new voters to the electoral process, viewing it as a crucial aspect of his mission. He also noted that necessary by-elections would be organized to fill the vacant positions of Sarpanch Samiti members in various areas, demonstrating his dedication to maintaining democratic processes in Odisha.

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