ECI appoints R. Santhanagopalan as new CEO of Odisha

Bhubaneswar, July 23: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday appointed R. Santhanagopalan, a 2001-batch IAS officer, as the new Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Odisha. He will succeed Nikunj Bihari Dhal, who was recently promoted to Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister Mohan Majhi.
The official notification indicated that Santhanagopalan was selected from a panel of three IAS officers proposed by the Additional Chief Secretary on July 18. He is expected to assume his new role immediately and submit a compliance report within a week.
Santhanagopalan previously served as Secretary of the Labour and ESI Department, returning from central deputation in 2022.