Bhubaneswar, Mar 10 (IANS): Ahead of election for zila parishad (ZP) heads, the state government has amended the Odisha Zilla Parishad Election Rules-1994, an official said on Friday.

As per the amended rules, an authorised agent of each political party will be allowed to verify the ballot papers of the party members before they cast their votes.

"Every political party, whose member as an elector casts a vote for the purpose of election to the office of the President, or as the case may be, the Vice President, may appoint one authorised agent," said a notification issued by the Panchayati Raj Department.

It said the President and the General Secretary of the state party/state unit of national political party will inform the Election Officer about the agent prior to the election day.

The new rules would come into force on the date of its publication in the Odisha Gazette.

The new clauses mentioned that the Election Officer will allow the authorised agents to verify as to whom elected members of their party have cast their votes.