Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) R.S. Gopalan’s decision to seek voluntary retirement from government service has triggered a political debate, with the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) questioning the reasons behind his move.

Gopalan, a 2001-batch IAS officer, sought voluntary retirement (VRS) on Wednesday, nearly 21 months before his scheduled superannuation in June 2028. He has been serving as Odisha’s Chief Electoral Officer since July 2024 and also holds the additional charge of Secretary in the Excise Department.

Reacting to the development, BJD Deputy Leader of Opposition Prasanna Acharya expressed doubts over the reasons behind Gopalan’s decision.

Acharya also reiterated the party’s opposition to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, questioning how more than 20 lakh names could be deleted in a relatively small state like Odisha.

“The SIR process is not acceptable at all. How could such a large number of voters be deleted in a small state like Odisha? More than 20 lakh voters, including new voters, were deleted during this complicated process,” Acharya said.

He said the BJD had repeatedly raised the issue and staged protests over the electoral roll revision.

“Many IAS officers seeking retirement is creating suspicion. Why they are taking such a decision is also a matter of concern,” Acharya said, alleging that bureaucrats were facing pressure and finding it difficult to adjust to the functioning of the government.

He added that the reasons behind Gopalan’s decision would become clear with time.

Law Minister rejects political interpretation

Responding to the controversy, Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said Gopalan had cited personal reasons for seeking voluntary retirement and urged political parties not to attach political motives to the decision.

“A senior IAS officer has cited personal reasons for his decision to retire. It should not be given a political colour. It is his personal matter,” Harichandan said.

The minister also pointed out that a DCP had earlier resigned citing personal reasons.

Gopalan’s VRS comes amid SIR controversy

Gopalan’s decision comes against the backdrop of the controversy over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Odisha.

The final electoral roll published following the SIR exercise contains around 3.16 crore voters. The revision had drawn criticism from opposition parties, including the BJD and Congress, over the deletion of names from the electoral rolls.

According to media reports, Gopalan has maintained that his decision to seek VRS was not related to the controversy surrounding the SIR exercise.

The reasons cited by the senior IAS officer for seeking voluntary retirement have therefore become a point of political discussion, with the government maintaining that it was a personal decision while the BJD has raised questions over the circumstances surrounding his departure.