Bhubaneswar: The fourth and final phase of general elections for six Lok Sabha and 41 Assembly constituencies in Odisha is underway Monday. Voting began at 7.00am and it will continue till 6.00pm.
Polling is being held in Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur Lok Sabha constituencies and 41 Assembly segments that come under them. Patkura Assembly seat, which comes under Kendrapara Lok Sabha segment will go to polls May 19. Elections for Assembly seat here was cancelled following the death of the BJD candidate.
Over 95.14 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in 10,792 booths to decide the fate of 388 candidates in this phase, 52 in Lok Sabha seats and 336 in Assembly constituencies. Of them, while 46,05,694 are women and 615 belong to the third gender. More than 60,000 polling personnel have been engaged to conduct polling.
Here we bring you the latest updates from all the constituencies going to polls Monday in the state.
Phase-IV polls come to an end
Polling for phase-IV general elections came to an end at 6:00pm in most places. An official announcement on this context by the CEO is expected shortly.
Voter turnout 66 per cent till 5:30pm
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Surendra Kumar informs that there has been 66 per cent voter turnout recorded in the state till 5:30pm.
BJP workers injured in clash
Two BJP workers were injured after they came to blows with BJD workers in booth number 242 in Ratilo panchayat of Salepur Assembly seat. The BJP men accused BJD of influencing voters.
Voters detain polling officers in Balasore
Voters detain presiding officer of Doruhan booth in Bhograi Assembly constituency for allegedly disclosing voting pattern of voters to BJD agents. Irate voters have detained polling officials.
BJD alleges booth capturing in Bari
Biju Janata Dal has alleged booth capturing by BJP workers in a number of booths of Bari Assembly constituency under Jajpur Lok Sabha seat. They have moved CEO in this context and have sought re-poll in those booths.
Aul Congress candidate demands re-poll in several booths
Congress candidate from Aul Assembly constituency and sitting MLA Debendra Sharma has approached the Chief Electoral Officer alleging rampant booth capturing by BJD in his constituency. He has requested for re-polling in a number of booths.
Turncoat stabbed to death in Jagatsinghpur
A BJD worker who had switched over to Congress yesterday was stabbed to death Monday allegedly by a BJD man. The incident occurred while he was returning after casting his vote in Noliasahi near Gadakujanga under Balikuda-Erasama Assembly constituency.
Voter turnout 49.88 per cent till 3:00pm
Election Commission of India has tweeted that there has been 49.88 per cent voter turnout recorded in Odisha till 3:00pm.
EVM trouble plagues booth number 64 in Bhadrak
Voters expressed resentment after the polling process was disrupted a second time at booth number 64 under Basudevpur Assembly constituency in Bhadrak following EVM glitches.
Vehicle bearing BJD symbol approaches booth in Mayurbhanj, vandalised
Political workers of two rival groups clashed in Uphalagadia area under Morada Assembly constituency of Mayurbhanj after a vehicle bearing BJD symbol approached a booth. The vehicle was ransacked.
Heatwave hits presiding officer in Balasore
The lady presiding officer in booth number 50 at Bahanaga under Balasore Lok Sabha suffered a heat stroke. She was moved to nearby Soro hospital and her condition is stated to be okay. It was a plight for both the polling officials and the voters as the sun beat mercilessly on them.
Govt officials complain about shadow voting
Two government officials who reached booth numbers 204 and in Raisunguda of Salepur Assembly seat discovered that their votes have already been cast through postal ballot.
Pressurising voters in Jagatsinghpur
A woman leader, allegedly a member of BJD, was seen warning voters to toe the party line. A video of the incident is doing rounds in social media where she is heard saying, “Vote who has fed you. Else, I will cut it off.” Many people suggested that she is referring to cutting off the names from various government schemes. The incident took place in booth number 169 of Gajarajpur under Naugaon tehsil in Jagatsinghpur Lok Sabha seat.
Violence disrupts polling in Niali
Polling was disrupted following a scuffle inside Kasarda Patrakana booth in Niali Assembly seat under Jagatsinghpur Lok Sabha seat. The BJP polling agent was allegedly roughed up there by BJD workers. A police complaint has been lodged.
BJP moves CEO seeking re-poll in booth number 310 of Kendrapara
A BJP delegation lodged a complaint with Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Surendra Kumar alleging that booth number 310 of Singiri Bazar under Aul Assembly seat of Kendrapara has been taken over by BJD goons. They have accused that voters were unduly influenced by BJD workers who worked in tandem with polling officers. The saffron party has demanded a re-poll with adequate Central force deployed to take care of security threats.
Voter turnout 35.79 per cent till 1:00pm
Chief Electoral Officer Surendra Kumar informs that there has been 35.79 per cent voter turnout recorded in the state till 1:00pm.
BJP worker injured in Balasore violence
A BJP worker sustained fractured arms after allegedly being attacked by BJD supporters in booth number 68 of Kundei village under Basta tehsil in Balasore Lok Sabha constituency.
SHG members gherao Sarpanch for distributing cash
Members of a Self Help Group in Kumari panchayat under Dharmasala constituency gheraod a Sarpanch accusing him of peddling cash for votes. A video is the incident is circulating in social media.
BJD-Congress supporters clash in Bhadrak
BJD and Congress workers clashed in booth number 86 of Basudevpur in Bhadrak after a supporter of the ruling part entered the booth multiple times. Cops have detained the accused man.
Jajpur Collector acts against errant polling officials
Jajpur district Collector has suspended the presiding officer of booth number 191 in Binjharpur and has ordered his arrest. He was allegedly persuading voters to poll in favour of a particular party. He has also suspended the fourth polling officer in booth number 196 of Sukinda Assembly constituency.
Violence in Jajpur
Yet another BJP polling agent injured after being attacked by BJD workers in booth number 173 of Chahata panchayat under Dharmasala Assembly segment of Jajpur Lok Sabha seat. Polling was disrupted for sometime at booth numbers 80 and 81 as well under Dharmasala block as reports of BJD workers manhandling BJP agents emerged.
Voter turnout 17 per cent till 11:00am
Chief Electoral Officer Surendra Kumar informs that there has been 17 per cent voter turnout recorded in the state till 11:00am.
BJP booth agent thrashed in Balasore
BJP’s polling agent thrashed by BJD workers including a woman at booth 247 of Huguli panchayat in Bhogarai Assembly seat under Balasore Lok Sabha seat. Forces deployed.
Violence in Kendrapara
Violence reported from booth number 29 at Sukarpada immediately after Lok Sabha candidate Baijayant Panda entered the site. BJD workers allegedly attack BJP supporters there.
Kendrapara SP denies allegations of rigging
We have not received any complaints pertaining to rigging. We will take appropriate action once we get complaints. Adequate security measures have been taken for the polls in all booths, says Kendrapara SP Niti Sekhar.
Poll boycott in Jajpur
As many as 302 families of Bargadia Dalitsahi in Sukinda boycott polls accusing district administration of false assurances to hift them from Kalinganagar Industrial area in Jajpur.
Bijayant Panda alleges rigging in Kendrapara
BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Kendrapara Bijayant Panda says, “Today, we registered 14-15 complaints with poll authorities over disturbances and attempts of rigging in several polling booths. We want free and fair polls”.
Booth rigging in Kendrapara
Video of a man allegedly influencing voters and casting multiple votes at booth no 310 of Aliha – Singiri Bazar UP School in Aul Assembly constituency comes to fore. Video is going viral on social media.
Woman faints while waiting in queue
In booth number 87 of Salepur Assembly Constituency under Kendrapara Parliamentary seat, people have come on good numbers to cast their votes. An old woman fainted while waiting in queue. Some of the voters were not satisfied with the amenities here and were seen trying to persuade others to not vote under such circumstances.
EVM smashed
EVM allegedly smashed inside booth number 173 of Dharmasala Assembly seat under Jajpur parliamentary constituency.
Voter turnout
Chief Electoral Officer informs 9 per cent voter turnout till 9:00am in the fourth phase polls in Odisha.
EVM issues reported in Balasore
Booth 144 in Sahadevkhunta, booth 113 in Sunahat, booth 93 and 137 in Nilagiri, booth 35 in Remuna, booth 119 in Soro, booth 126 in Seragarh and booth 140 in Balasore district reported EVM issues.
Technical snag in Jagatsinghpur
Machines in booths 102 and 103 of Jagatsinghpur municipality and booths 29 and 40 of Jagatsinghpur district faced technical snag. Similarly, EVMs failed in booth number 221 of Sukinda, booth 184 in Binjharpur, booth 84, 68 and 199 in Korei Assembly constituency.
EVM glitches continue
Voting delayed due to EVM glitches in booth no 219, 268 in Kakatpur, booth no 42, 66 of Nimapara, booth no 214 in Paradip and multiple places in Kujanga.
EVM and VVPAT issues in Balasore
In Balasore, technical glitches in Assembly VVPAT machine in booth 72 of Simulia come to fore. Similar problems reported in booth 125 of Trilochanpur and other Simulia booths like 119, 109 and 110.
EVM issues in Kendrapara
In Kendrapara, EVM Malfunction delays voting at booths no 226 & 128 in Aul and booth no 213 in Aienda of Mahanga.
Voting delayed in Mayurbhanj
In Mayurbhanj, voting gets delayed in multiple booths- 34 & 35 in Baripada, 33 in Bangiriposi, 102 and 22 in Badasahi, 142 and 197 in Rairangpur, 39 and 60 in Saraskana.
Voting delayed in Bhadrak
Voting delayed in booth number 181, 185, 222, 244, 245, 54, and 243 following EVM malfunction under Dhamnagar Assembly constituency in Bhadrak. Voting also delayed in booth- 71, 183, 198, 220 in Bhandaripokhari; booths no 2, 46, 208, 50 in Soro; booths 69, 114,116 in Basudevpur; booths 216,14 and 239 in Chandbali due to technical glitches.
Issues with VVPAT machines
Voting delayed in booths no 5 and 203 in Ulumara and Natakata panchayats respectively due to glitches in VVPAT machines.
Voting delayed across several constituencies
Voting is being delayed due to EVM glitches in booth 138 under Balikuda-Erasama Assembly constituency in Jagatsinghpur district. In Jajpur, similar problems are being reported from booth no 115 of Dharmasala, booth no 110 of Bari & booth no 96 of Jajpur. EVMs at booths no 68, 226 in Rajnagar of Kendrapara also develop technical snag.
Polling yet to start in eight Kendrapara booths
Polling could not begin at eight booths of Aul constituency in Kendrapara district as the EVMs developed some glitches, according to information available.
Voters welcomed with roses at 75 booths in Bhadrak
Seventy five out of 1,292 booths in this district have been declared as ‘model polling booths’ where voters were welcomed with roses Monday.
EVM glitches
EVM glitches delay voting process in several booths.
First-time voters
First time voters across all constituencies are quite enthusiastic to exercise their franchise. In several booths, women were seen in large numbers waiting in queue for their turn to cast their votes. Moreover, the elderly were also seen being brought along by their relatives to decide the fate of the candidates.
Polling begins
Polling started at sharp 7:00am. It is expected to gain momentum as the day progresses and will continue till 6:00pm.