Odisha Governor Mr. Hari Babu Kambhampati has appointed retired IAS officer Mr. Madhusudan Padhi as the State Election Commissioner of Odisha. The announcement, made by the Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Department, aligns with Article 243-K of the Constitution of India.
Mr. Padhi, a 1991 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, takes over from his predecessor, retired IAS officer Mr. Aditya Prasad Padhi (1983-batch). His appointment comes ahead of the Panchayat and urban elections scheduled for 2027.
Throughout his career, Mr. Madhusudan Padhi has served in various significant capacities, including Managing Director of OMFED, Principal Secretary of the Department of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare, and Transport Commissioner. He also held the position of Principal Secretary in the Electronics & Information Technology (E&IT) Department of the Odisha government.
Before retiring in October 2022, Mr. Padhi was promoted to the rank of Chief Secretary, reflecting his distinguished service and contributions to the state administration.