Bhubaneswar: Polling for four Lok Sabha constituencies and 28 Assembly seats in Odisha is underway Monday, amid stringent security measures, officials said.
Voting started at 7am in Berhampur, Koraput, Nabarangpur and Kalahandi parliamentary constituencies along with 28 Assembly segments within the jurisdiction of these Lok Sabha seats.
Polling will continue till 6pm with adjustments in certain remote and Maoist-hit areas, where voting will conclude earlier, the officials said.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) NB Dhal assured adequate arrangements for voters’ convenience.
63% voter turnout recorded in Odisha till 5pm
Till 5pm, 62.96 cent voters cast their votes, officials said, adding that the highest voter turnout was recorded in tribal-dominated Kalahandi Lok Sabha seat at 67.07 per cent followed by Nabarangpur (65.07), Koraput (61.43) and Berhampur (58).
Of the eight districts where the simultaneous polls are being held, highest 68.84 per cent polling was recorded in Nabrangpur district followed by Kalahandi (67.37), Nuapada (66.35), Gajapati (63.71), Rayagada (62.96), Koraput (61.22), Malkangiri (57.68) and Ganjam (55.65).
Official said Dabugam Assembly segment in Nabarangpur district reported the highest turnout of 71.30 per cent while only 47.90 per cent of electors cast their votes in Berhampur Assembly seat in Ganjam district.
Jharigam BJP MLA candidate allegedly attacked
Jharigam BJP MLA candidate Narsing Bhatra was “attacked” allegedly by BJD workers when he tried to stop “rigging” in a polling booth in the Jharigam Assembly constituency under the Nabarangpur Parliamentary constituency.
Bhatra said on hearing the news that some anti-socials had entered into a polling booth under his Assembly constituency he rushed to the booth to prevent “rigging”. The BJP MLA candidate said some “BJD workers” prevented him from entering the booth and when resisted, he was assaulted.
Bhatra said he had already lodged an FIR in connection with the incident with the police. He, however, said those who attacked him were yet to be arrested.
CEO directs arrest of two presiding officers
CEO Dhal said two more presiding officers posted at booth numbers 27 and 163 under the Chhatrapur Assembly segment were suspended for dereliction of duty. He further said he has asked the Ganjam District Collector to arrest these two presiding officers as sources said they were influencing the voters to cast votes in favour of a particular political party.
Dhal said another presiding officer of booth number 193 of the Gopalpur Assembly constituency was also suspended for dereliction of duty.
Earlier, two polling officers, one at Narla and the other in Ganjam, have been placed under suspension for dereliction of duty.
52.91% voter turnout recorded till 3pm
Around 52.91 per cent of the over 62.87 lakh voters have exercised their franchise till 3pm in four Lok Sabha and 28 assembly constituencies in Odisha Monday, officials said.
Till 3 pm, 52.91 per cent voters have cast their votes, officials said, adding that the highest voter turnout was recorded in the tribal-dominated Kalahandi Lok Sabha seat at 58 per cent followed by Nabarangpur with 55.69 per cent turnout, Koraput (53.08 per cent), and Berhampur (44.65 per cent).
Police said there was no report of any untoward incident in any polling booth.
39.30% voter turnout recorded till 1pm
Till 1pm, 39.30 per cent of the 62.87 lakh voters have exercised their franchise, the officials said, adding that the highest voter turnout was recorded in tribal-dominated Kalahandi Lok Sabha seat at 42.67 per cent followed by Nabarangpur with 42.65 per cent turnout, Koraput (36.64 per cent) and Berhampur (34.97 per cent).
EC suspends two polling officials for dereliction of duty
The Election Commission (EC) has suspended two polling officials in Odisha for dereliction of duty, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nikunja Bihari Dhal said in Bhubaneswar Monday.
One polling official from Narla Assembly constituency in Kalahandi district and another polling official in Ganjam district have been suspended for dereliction of duty, he said.
Clash-like incident reported from Chikiti
CEO Nikunja Bihari Dhal told media persons, “A minor group clash-like incident was reported from Chikiti area in Ganjam district. I have personally spoken to SP Berhampur and Ganjam Collector and asked them to ensure that the polling goes on smoothly in Berhampur LS constituency, especially in the Chikiti area.”
As voter turnout was a little low in the Berhampur Lok Sabha constituency, the CEO appealed to the voters to come out in large numbers and exercise their franchise.
Peaceful polling underway in Odisha, 23.28% voter turnout till 11am
Around 23.28 per cent voter turnout has been recorded in the state till 11am Monday, officials said.
Till 11 am around 23.28 per cent of the 62.87 lakh voters have exercised their franchise, officials said, adding that the highest voter turnout was recorded in tribal-dominated Kalahandi Lok Sabha seat at 25.38 per cent followed by Koraput (24.43 per cent), Nabarangpur (24.3 per cent) and Berhampur (18.99 per cent).
Police said there was no report of any untoward incident in any polling booth.
EVM glitches detected during mock poll
Odisha’s Chief Electoral Officer NB Dhal Monday said that the voting was underway in all the 7,303 polling stations across peacefully in four Parliamentary Constituencies and 28 Assembly segments under their jurisdiction with some reports of EVM glitches.
He said the highest EVM glitches were reported from the Kalahandi Lok Sabha seat and they were addressed immediately.
The CEO said the defects in EVMs were identified during the mock poll ahead of the voting and they were replaced within 30 minutes.
“During mock poll, we found several EVMs with glitches and they were subsequently replaced,” Dhal said.
Till 9am around 9.23 per cent of the over 62.87 lakh electors eligible voters have exercised their franchise, officials said.
Boats, airdropping, and deployment
Over 62.87 lakh electors are eligible to exercise their franchise across 7,303 polling booths, he said, adding that 37 candidates are vying for the four Lok Sabha seats and 243 contestants for 28 assembly segments.
Dhal highlighted unique challenges, such as airdropping polling officials for six booths in the remote Nuapada district and using boats in other areas to ensure accessibility.
To address potential threats, police have deployed 17,000 personnel, particularly focusing on areas vulnerable to Maoist activities.
DGP Arun Kumar Sarangi emphasised ensuring a peaceful voting environment.
PNN & Agencies
