Bhubaneswar, Dec 27: The Chief Election Commissioner of India, Gyanesh Kumar, arrived in Bhubaneswar on Saturday for a three-day official visit to Odisha. Kumar’s itinerary will combine official engagements with visits to key cultural and heritage sites across the state, providing a mix of administrative duties and spiritual explorations.

Upon his arrival at the Biju Patnaik International Airport earlier in the day, Kumar proceeded directly to Puri. There, he is set to offer prayers at the Shree Jagannath Temple, before heading to Konark to explore the famous Sun Temple, marking the first day of his visit.

As part of the official schedule, Kumar will continue his Odisha tour on December 28 with visits to several heritage and cultural sites, including Raghurajpur heritage village, the Dhauli Shanti Stupa, the twin hill complexes of Khandagiri and Udayagiri, and the Mukteswar Temple in Bhubaneswar. These visits are part of a carefully planned cultural immersion during his stay.

A significant highlight of his trip will take place on December 29 when Kumar is set to address booth-level officers at the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) auditorium in Bhubaneswar. The meeting, which is scheduled for 3 pm, will focus on election preparedness, the roles and responsibilities of booth-level officers, and strategies for strengthening electoral processes. Booth-level officers play a crucial role in the smooth conduct of elections at the grassroots level, making this interaction vital for ensuring operational readiness.

After the meeting, Kumar will depart from Bhubaneswar, bringing his visit to a close on the evening of December 29.

Although his visit includes cultural engagements, officials have emphasized that the core of the trip is the interaction with election officers. Such meetings are standard practice for the Election Commission to ensure that field-level functionaries are well-prepared and clear on their responsibilities ahead of elections.

No separate review meetings with the state election machinery have been officially announced, and the Election Commission has not indicated any election-related announcements during the visit.