Deoghar, Jan 4: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India Gyanesh Kumar arrived in Deoghar on Sunday on a two-day visit to Jharkhand and offered prayers at the famous Baba Baidyanath Dham, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. He was accompanied by his family during the visit.
The CEC arrived at Deoghar Airport, where he was welcomed with bouquets by Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer K. Ravi Kumar, DIG Santhal Pargana Amber Lakra, Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer Naman Priyesh Lakra, Superintendent of Police Saurabh, and Sub-Divisional Officer Ravi Kumar. On his arrival, Deoghar district police accorded him a guard of honour.
From the airport, Gyanesh Kumar proceeded directly to Baba Baidyanath Dham. Temple priests performed traditional rituals amid Vedic chanting. The Chief Election Commissioner carried out Jalabhishek and offered special prayers at the Dwadasha Jyotirlinga shrine, seeking blessings for the prosperity and well-being of the nation and the state. Several devotees and senior administrative officials were present in the temple premises during the rituals.
Speaking briefly to reporters after the puja, Gyanesh Kumar said he had come to Jharkhand with his family to offer prayers for the country’s progress and a bright future. When asked about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, he chose not to give a detailed response and simply said, “Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.”
According to the itinerary released by Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer K. Ravi Kumar, the CEC will also visit the Naulakha Temple and AIIMS Deoghar later in the day. On Monday, he is scheduled to offer prayers at Basuki Nath Mandir in Dumka. He will also interact with booth-level officers (BLOs) before returning to Delhi.
The visit comes ahead of the likely launch of the Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls in Jharkhand in February. Officials said that during the SSR process, household forms will be distributed to all voters, who will be required to fill them regardless of whether their names are included in the 2003 electoral rolls.
CEO Ravi Kumar said the Chief Election Commissioner will also meet all district collectors during his two-day visit. Tight security arrangements were made across Deoghar to ensure the smooth conduct of the visit.
